Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

#zerowaste

Talking About Climate Change

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How often do you talk about climate change or hear someone else talk about it? If you responded, “not much,” you are not alone. Only 24% of Americans have heard Climate Change discussed in their social circle.

To stop the goliath that is climate change, we need to talk about the issue and solutions. We also need to get as many people on board with climate initiatives as possible, including people who are otherwise unmotivated or unconvinced of the need to act. The only way to do that is, you guessed it, to talk about it. So, how should we go about this?

  1. Have non-judgmental discussions. Open-minded discussions about emotional topics lead to lasting opinion changes and increased concern about an issue. They increase the chances that participants want to act.
  2. Focus on values and personal experiences. In climate discussions, this could mean talking about family, religion, community, recreation, patriotism, and how climate change affects them all.
  3. Rather than focusing on doom and gloom facts, be optimistic. Discuss the potential for solutions that benefit not just the planet, but also our economy, health, and equality.

Here is the best part about all of this: those who we talk to about climate change then discuss it with their social circle, creating a positive feedback loop. Only 22% of those who rarely discuss climate change talk about it with their family and friends, while 76% of those who discuss climate change at least once a month talk about it to their family and friends.

So, let’s all challenge ourselves to talk to someone about climate change and see where the action takes us.

Montana Burack, Senior at Park City High School

From Summit County’s Solid Waste Superintendent, “Please recycle your cardboard!”

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The increase in mail order and consumer packaging has dramatically increased the amount of old corrugated cardboard (OCC) being dumped at the Summit County Three Mile Canyon Landfill in Coalville. Tim Loveday, the County’s Waste Management Superintendent, states that this is a “real problem and it’s frustrating.”

The problem? Like any other landfill garbage, breaking down OCC produces greenhouse gas. Also, compacted OCC takes up about two and a half times more space when compared to other compacted waste– 700 pounds of OCC compared to 1600 pounds of other waste per cubic yard. Dumping OCC is shortening the projected thirty-five-year lifespan of the landfill by one year for every ten. There’s room for four more double-lined pits or “cells” on the property. One is needed now, and Loveday has requested 3.3 million dollars in the County’s 2024 budget to create it.

Especially frustrating is the fact that when OCC is recycled it earns municipalities and recyclers money. Loveday says Summit County has made money on it in past years; this year they are breaking even. Curbside recycling is capturing 39% of residential OCC, which means we are still dumping about 60% of it. Households that don’t have or use curbside recycling must take their OCC to Recycle Utah or to the landfill where if separated out, it is easily placed into on-site OCC-only dumpsters for recycling. Still, landfill staff see users throwing OCC into the mixed trash dumpsters. Throw away enough OCC, and you’re throwing away money. The message to recycle OCC is an old oft repeated one. Loveday is still asking us, perhaps with more urgency, to sort and recycle your old corrugated cardboard!

By Bev Harrison

Fast Fashion

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Are you tired of your clothes and in need of a shopping spree? Maybe a wedding is on the horizon and a new zippy dress or suit sounds divine. Yet, you’ve heard of the negative impact of the fashion industry on our planet. So, what can you do? It’s true, Europe and the United States are the biggest culprits for clothing waste. Cotton is water-intensive and insecticide heavy; leather is often associated with Chromium, a carcinogen; synthetics like polyester, nylon, and rayon are made from fossil fuels, accounting for more than 60% of clothing today.

Clothing may travel thousands of miles before arriving on our doorstep due to the complicated supply chain structure. The microplastics and dyes from clothing can seep into our water system in the wash. After a while of owning it, you tire of it and want to do away with it. So, where can you take it? 85% of U.S. textile waste ends up in landfills or incinerators and polyester can take decades to break down.

How can you sustainably shop and do away with clothes?

  1. Stop buying so much.
  2. Donate to thrift stores and buy from thrift stores or online secondhand clothing sites.
  3. Rent clothing. More and more online platforms do this!
  4. Donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters bins around town. Big Brothers Big Sisters accept any textile, including old towels, sheets, or accessories and will either resell, donate, or repurpose those items. Find a bin here.
  5. Know your manufacturer (some are more pro-active than others with sustainability). Learn more here.

Clothing is fun! It’s how we express ourselves. Though times are changing and so must our creativity in moving towards simplistic, long-lasting styles with clothing, shoes, accessories, housewares, and more. Everything we own has a footprint.

By Mary Closser

The Dangers of “Forever Chemicals” and the Water We Drink

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How safe is the water we drink? Many people are unaware about the chemical PFAS. PFAS has been linked to health problems such as cancer, metabolism disorders, and reproductive problems, to name a few. Monica Amarelo with The Environmental Working Group (EWG) states “PFAS are known as forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment and build up in our blood and organs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected PFAS in the blood of 99 percent of Americans, including newborn babies.”

Recent studies on drinking water have shown that PFAS (polyfluorinated alkyl substances), are in at least 45% of U.S tap water, and that the water we drink contains at least one of the 12,000 discovered PFAS in a U.S. geology survey. “EWG estimates there could be nearly 30,000 industrial polluters releasing PFAS into the environment, including into sources of drinking water.” The EWG stated. Consumers can also take action to protect themselves: The existence of PFAS in drinking water is essentially inevitable, however there are ways that we can filter out these chemicals; The EWG recommends four water filters based off quality, price, and effectiveness: travel Berkey, zero water, clearly filtered, and Epic water filter. It is also critical to look out for PFAS in wax products, and any product that resists grease, water, and oil, according to the CDC. 

Grayson Rae, Sophomore at Park City High School

Why Does Recycling Matter?

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Rumor has it that it’s not worth recycling any plastics as they end up in the landfill. Are what Republic picks up at the curb every other week actually being made into a new product? While I can’t proclaim what occurs in other communities, I can say what occurs in Summit County. What is happening to our plastics… and more? Is it worth the effort to recycle?

Most recyclables, at this time, are not profitable except metals (a crime to see in the trash!). Glass is very recyclable and like metal, never degrades in quality, while paper and plastic weaken a bit each time. Glass, after transport, rarely pays back. Cardboard and paper are critical to recycle with fluctuating markets (often related to online orders) but they’re important to recycle due to released methane when landfilled.

Plastic is complicated. While there is seldom a payback, it’s the right thing to do. Most #1 and #2 plastics have a market; they are chipped and recycled into fleece, decking, carpet, etc. Everything else (#3 – #7) is now often used as ‘waste to energy’ to make cement at a local plant in Morgan, Utah. At least 30% of fossil fuels are avoided in the process, replaced by petroleum-based products like used plastics and tires. 

We’ve learned that at least 80% of what is going into our curbside recycling bins is being recycled (it used to be 65%) – that’s great! Plastic bags, glass, Styrofoam, and food are the biggest contamination culprits. One bad egg doesn’t make a difference, but many making bad do. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

By Mary Closser

Sustainable Travel and Lodging

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There is a saying that experience is the best teacher, and the best experience is travel. There are so many reasons we love to travel; to see new sites, experience new cultures, and embed ourselves in new communities. While travel can be one of the most meaningful ways to connect with the greater world around us, it can often come with less than friendly environmental impacts.

At Park City Lodging, we have developed several initiatives to help our guests to travel sustainably. One of the most impactful changes a hotel or vacation rental provider can make is to switch to bulk amenities. Park City Lodging offers 17oz. amenities, replacing 55,000 single use plastic bottles from production each year. Another impactful endeavor that businesses in every industry can explore is the 1% model for donations to local nonprofits. This can mean something different for each business: for PCL, our guests opt-in to donating $1/night to the Summit Land Conservancy, but it can be as simple as $0.10 per sale or even offering a donation bucket at the place of business for travelers to connect with the local community in a meaningful way. We also provide reusable grocery bags to guests upon check in, helping to keep plastic bag usage down within our community and shifting behavior for travelers upon returning to their own communities.

When searching for lodging accommodations during your next vacation, don’t be afraid to ask about sustainability practices, the industry is driven by consumers so the louder we are, the more impact we can have.

Heleena Sideris, Park City Lodging