Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

#sustainability

Drought-Tolerant Trees and Water Conservation

by

Conserving water is a crucial step towards a more sustainable environment. When one uses water in their home, energy is used to filter, clean, and pump the water. Therefore, reducing your water usage can further reduce your carbon footprint. By using less water, you are helping reduce pollution as well as conserving fuel resources. It is one of the small steps we can take towards protecting our environment. 

Considering that we live in Utah, droughts are a serious issue. Already in a water-deprived position, the last thing we want to do is lessen water reserves that certain species and ecosystems rely on. While in a drought, however, it is important to remember to prioritize watering trees. Trees provide a host of community benefits, including shade, oxygen, soil erosion prevention, and food sources for species. Shrubs are another important plant to prioritize when watering, as they help minimize road noise and filter out pollution from the air. If newly planted trees and plants are not properly watered, they could die before taking root.  Trees and shrubs are an essential part of our environment and must be protected during a drought. 

To help increase our tree canopy with water conservation in mind, Park City is organizing several tree planting events to build our urban canopy! Look out for new trees, with self-watering ‘ooze tubes’ around town this Fall. If you’re interested in joining a tree planting, visit the City’s Planting Park City page to sign up for future events! 

By Pearson Ehrich

Decarbonizing our Homes

by

You’re building a new home and landscaping your yard; would you adorn it with Kentucky Blue Grass? Or mix in some low-water native plants? It’s the same with our homes as we move into the future with ‘electrification’ as the latest buzz.  What exactly is this method of decarbonization?

Residential focus is on heating, cooking appliances, dryers, breaker boxes, solar, electric vehicle chargers and battery storage. Home heat involves replacing gas furnaces and water heaters with electric heat pumps, gas fireplaces with electric versions, gas stoves with induction cooktop/ranges and breaker boxes to accommodate the additional wattage. However, who can afford this necessary transition as we progress into the future, especially since gas is still affordable? To replace our 80 million + appliances in our 120 million U.S. households in the coming decades, equitable federal investment is critical. 

Additionally, decades of research shows that gas stoves can release harmful pollutants and sadly, indoor air emissions from these fossil fuel-burning appliances remain unregulated. Repeated long-term indoor air exposure to our beloved gas stoves can lead to development of respiratory complications and other health issues. 

By Mary Closser

Natural Cleaning Supplies

by

It’s something we all have in common: Cleaning. What’s not common knowledge, though, is the power of natural, non-toxic and inexpensive cleaning materials. Consider Going Green and nixing the stinky cleaning cabinet all together! Check out a few of the basics:

1. House Cleaner: The most magical of all begins with a V -Yes, Vinegar. Fill an empty spray bottle with 1/3 Vinegar ½ H20 and 1 T. dish soap. This magical liquid can beautify most surfaces in your house – it’s especially good for mildew, floors, mirrors, windows and countertops. Any V smell dissipates once it dries. Rubbing alcohol also works well on windows and Baking soda does wonders for the toilet, tub, countertops and oven interior (mixed with salt). Sodium Percarbonate is a superb Bleach alternative.

2. Furniture and More: Polish your furniture and shoes with mere Olive Oil and lemon juice and freshen the air or de-clog your drains with vinegar and baking soda. Hydrogen Peroxide does the trick for red wine stains and more and lastly, Peanut Butter can remove the tough residues like paint or sticker residue.

3. Everyday: How many ingredients do your everyday body soap and shampoo have in them? Castile soap, hard or liquid, is simple olive oil based soap, amongst others. Check the net for recipes to make your own soaps, toothpaste, laundry detergent, house cleaners and much more.

By Mary Closser

Let the Sun Shine In

by

It’s the height of Summer, which means long days and plenty of sunlight. While we’re busy enjoying the warm weather and taking vacations, we don’t always think about lighting in our homes and offices. Turning on lights during the day can add unnecessary energy use and expenses – especially when we have such an abundant source of daylight in the summer.

Be sure to use natural daylighting as much as you can at home and in the office. If you have access to windows and plenty of sunlight, artificial lighting isn’t necessary. Natural lighting is better for health and productivity anyway! If you find your home gets too much by direct sun, you can purchase window shades or screens to reduce heat gain, UV exposure, and glare while still letting in some sunlight. At work, encourage your office to use natural lighting wherever possible.  If you can work remotely, try working outside to get fresh air and boost your mood!

If you need to use artificial lighting, be sure to use it efficiently. Turn the lights off when you’re done in a room – especially if you are the last one at the office! Be sure to switch to LED lights; this is one of the easiest and most effective actions you can take to reduce energy use at home. LEDs use 75% less energy and can last over 15 years longer than incandescent lights while providing the same amount of light or lumens.

By Haylee Neel

Paper Towel Alternatives

by

Paper towels are a staple in many homes and seem to have infinite uses, but they are also a single-use product filling up landfills and contributing to overall waste. Aside from the waste problem, paper towel production impacts the environment through deforestation, chemical and water use, and carbon dioxide emissions. So how do we kick the paper towel habit and make the switch to better alternatives?


Americans are responsible for about half of the world’s paper towel usage – 13 billion pounds of paper towels annually or the equivalent of 270 million trees each year. To move away from overuse of paper towels, consider the many viable alternatives that exist on the market. Instead of decorative dish towels, white cotton towels and sponges can be used and reused for spills and household cleaning. Consider investing in cloth napkins to avoid unnecessary waste at mealtimes. The best part about switching to these reusable alternatives is that you’re likely to save money in the long run by purchasing less single-use items.


If you feel like a mess just needs a paper towel, try to purchase post-consumer recycled fiber, unbleached, or bamboo paper towels. Bamboo requires no pesticides or chemicals for growth and is self-regenerating with little water. Additionally, most paper towels are biodegradable and can be composted (if used to clean up food or drink messes), so if you want to go above and beyond, be sure to check if the paper towels you are purchasing fit these requirements.

By Olivia Beckstead

‘Tis the Season for Farmer’s Markets

by

We all know how good shopping locally is for us, our community and the planet. And NOW is the time to shop at a neighborhood farmers’ market. The best nutritious and flavorful produce grown sustainably on nearby family farms ripens throughout our growing season. For the next few months, farmers will bring it to town for us to purchase, along with other farm products they make using local ingredients. Here are some tips for  bringing home a colorful cornucopia:

*Bring cash and consider using a wagon, wheeled-cart or stroller for all  your purchases; stick in a small cooler.  

*Shop early for the greatest selection; shop the last hour for deals.

*Make sure to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables currently being harvested. These are infinitely more delicious than their grocery store  counterparts.

*Ask farmers questions about their produce, especially unfamiliar items,  and how it is grown. They are eager to have us join them in advocating for locally-grown and sustainably-produced food. They can give you preparation ideas—and maybe a sample!

*Farmers markets can be overwhelming. You might want to have a shopping plan and recipes to help you choose and use produce and other farm products while they are freshest. Think creatively and substitute ingredients with what is seasonally available. Sometimes buying a hodgepodge of items results in unused food that ends up going to waste.  

Enjoy a fun, educational, productive and delicious time at a farmers market. Bon Appetit!

By Bev Harrison