Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

#zerowaste

Got Energy? It’s Time to Economize

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Imagine this: your thermostat is at 67 rather than 70 during the day and 55 rather than 60 during the night– you throw on a sweater or an extra blanket. Simply decreasing the temperature of your thermostat, amongst many other changes, can save money and minimize the burning of fossil fuels during our winter months. Not everyone can afford solar panels, electric vehicles, and the latest appliances, but there are numerous low to no-cost energy actions we can implement to reduce our monthly bills and carbon footprint. Here are a few:

  • Transition all bulbs to LED, including Christmas lights.
  • Why heat or light the house when nobody is there? Purchase a smart thermostat, dimmers, motion sensors, and timers.
  • Turn off lights when not in use and install smart strips to avoid vampire power use.
  • Identify air leaks, then caulk, seal, and weather strip.
  • Open windows during warmer days and close them at night.
  • Make sure nothing is blocking heat vents and add rugs if the floors are cold.
  • Ditch the extra fridge or freezer hanging out in the garage or basement.
  • Maintain central heat ducts and service your furnace.
  • Decrease heat in parts of the house that are not used consistently.
  • Turn the water heater temperature down.
  • Ditch the dryer and use drying racks.
  • Close the fireplace flue when not in use and add chimney insulation if appropriate.
  • Close off spare bedrooms, including vents.
  • Consider transitioning to electric for the oven, furnace, and water heater (rebates are available).
  • Contact Dominion Energy’s ThermWise program for a $25 Home Energy Audit at 1-888-324-3221.

By Mary Closser

Remodeling Reclamation

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Recycling is important– it keeps materials out of landfills and saves natural resources by creating new items from old. What’s far better than recycling though are the first two R’s: Reduce and Reuse. Buy something that already exists versus something newly created from natural resources; usually oil, ore, plants, or sand are the natural resources items are made from. Thrift stores are optimal by offering used clothing, kitchenware, books, shoes, and more. Then, there are keen kitchen gadgets popping up to replace plastic wrap or aluminum foil to cover bowls and cans, washable/durable sponges, washable/reusable paper towels, and more. It’s wonderful to see what the market offers these days.

Another area many don’t think about with Reduce and Reuse is home remodeling projects. I recently added a small bathroom to my condo to entice my son to return home from college more. The Reuse challenge was super fun. Ultimately, I was able to use leftover floor tile from Modern Tile in SLC, and the sink, toilet, door, shelving, light fixture, and trim mainly from Recycle Utah’s Warehouse Thrift Store. It looks terrific and slightly eclectic. Extended dedication would have involved leftover drywall and wood, light switches, paint, and towel racks, while insulation and the shower would have been more challenging. The point is that options are available if we have time to hunt, and we can’t forget about the saved money and resources.

Between local building thrifts like Recycle Utah and Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, not to mention numerous others in the Salt Lake Valley, the sky is the limit. Everything comes from a natural resource, and many are non-renewable. Let’s get savvy about how we proceed with our purchases from clothes and furniture to cars and home remodels. Can we Reduce or Reuse before we Recycle?

By Mary Closser

Have an Earth-Giving Holiday

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The season of “Peace on Earth Good Will to All” is upon us. This season is followed by the official date for us to make next year’s resolutions, making this a good sequence of events as far as we on an ever-warming planet are concerned. There are so many things we can resolve to do to not only to live more sustainably, but to help assure that others, including those in business and government, do too.

If your elementary-age child attends school in Park City, or in some North and South Summit locations, know that Recycle Utah educators are teaching them about our impact on the environment and how-to live-in ways that protect it. Enlist their help in choosing what things your family can do—joyfully.

Peace fosters the positive economic, political, and social factors that create sustainable development. It’s important that we work to elect people who have made public their actions to create and implement peace-building policies.

Wish for others a life of sustainable prosperity—one in which they prosper in ways that withstand shocks, ensure a good and healthy quality of life, and do not require polluting and overusing earth’s decreasing natural resources.

Let the spirit of the holiday season guide you to make earth-friendly 2024 resolutions. Vow to buy less, launder less, donate, consign, and recycle; send gifts of experiences, shop locally, avoid single use plastic, conserve water at the faucet, turn off lights, turn off your car, turn down the heat; compost, use your disposal, take a bus. Learn more about how you can help slow down climate change.

By Bev Harrison

Unwrapping a Greener Holiday: Sustainable Tips for a Merry Christmas

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Watching the snow build on the mountains has many of us getting excited for ski season, as well as the holidays! However, it’s crucial to be mindful of the environmental impact that often accompanies the festivities. Household waste surges by 25% in the four weeks leading up to Christmas, contributing to a staggering 100 million tons of extra trash in landfills each week. This year let’s collectively celebrate an eco-friendlier holiday season.

Consider your Christmas tree source! An artificial tree produces less waste, but it takes about 10 Christmases for the carbon footprint of your fake tree to be lower than real trees due to the chemicals used in their manufacturing. If you’re buying a fresh tree, plan to compost it after the holidays. Trees can be dropped at the base of PC Hill through the end of January or in various locations around Summit County.

Minimize holiday waste by choosing recycled and recyclable Christmas cards or opting for e-cards to reduce paper waste. Get creative with sustainable wrapping alternatives like brown craft paper, old maps, scarves, or reusable cloth bags. Dispose of old electronic devices responsibly by bringing them to Recycle Utah. When making room for this year’s gifts, donate used items to the Christian Center or Recycle Utah to keep them out of the landfill.

When gifting, consider zero waste options like concert tickets, museum visits, or gift cards. Craft handmade gifts to add a personal touch and reduce reliance on mass-produced items. Prioritize fair trade products made with recycled or renewable materials, supporting ethical business practices. Shop locally to support community businesses, and if shopping online, choose retailers specializing in sustainable and handcrafted items to reduce the carbon footprint.

This holiday season let’s give our community the gift of sustainability and make choices that positively impact our environment. By adopting these tips, we can celebrate a joyous and eco-friendly Christmas, creating traditions that prioritize both the well-being of our planet and the happiness of our loved ones. Celebrate the season responsibly and leave a legacy of sustainable practices for future generations.

By Chelsea Hafer

Reduce Waste in Your Everyday Life

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Since opening in 2009, Savoury Kitchen has endeavored to implement eco-friendly practices in all aspects of our business. These efforts are not only beneficial for our community and planet but also contribute to cost savings, a healthier lifestyle and record snowfall last season. (You’re welcome.)

Here are some practical tips we compiled for reducing waste in your own lives:

  • Embrace the Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: Reduce unnecessary purchases, reuse items whenever possible, and properly recycle materials. Example: Our office is furnished almost exclusively with items reclaimed at Recycle Utah’s warehouse. Thanks guys!
  • Go Paperless: Minimize paper usage by transitioning to digital docs and comms. Utilize cloud-based storage and collaborative platforms for file sharing and opt for electronic invoices and receipts whenever possible. This not only reduces paper waste but also promotes a more organized and efficient work environment. It’s easy. You should just do it.
  • Cultivate Sustainable Habits: Incorporate sustainable practices into your daily routine, like stocking real (not paper) coffee cups in the office, composting food waste, bundling errands and turning off the lights. And for Pete’s sake, please stop buying single use bottled water!
  • Support Your Local Green Businesses: Show some love and appreciation to these Green Businesses by promoting their initiatives on social media, sharing positive reviews and emphasizing the importance of their eco-friendly practices.

By implementing these tips, individuals play an active role in creating a more sustainable and waste-conscious living and working environment, thereby contributing to a healthier and greener Park City for future generations.

By Jon Green, Savoury Kitchen

Savor the Flavor, Not the Waste: Reducing Food Waste This Thanksgiving

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As Thanksgiving approaches, we look forward to delicious meals with loved ones. Yet, this season also witnesses a sharp 25% increase in household waste, with food waste being a major contributor. This waste surge is especially concerning because food decomposition releases potent greenhouse gases, including methane. The good news is that we all have the power to change this trend. Let’s make this Thanksgiving more sustainable and reduce our environmental impact by curbing food waste.

When preparing your Thanksgiving feast, thoughtfully plan your menu, avoiding excessive dishes that lead to leftovers. Before heading to the grocery store, do a thorough inventory check of your pantry and refrigerator to identify ingredients you already have, reducing the need for additional purchases. Opt for recipes that efficiently utilize similar ingredients, making the most of what’s available.

Embrace sustainable shopping practices to lessen your Thanksgiving environmental footprint. Purchase locally and organically when possible, supporting your local community while reducing the carbon footprint of your meal. Don’t forget to bring reusable produce bags! Opt for homemade dishes whenever you can; they tend to be more environmentally friendly, generating less packaging waste and fewer emissions from production and transportation. 

After the meal, focus on eco-friendly food storage solutions that keep leftovers fresh while reducing waste. Say no to disposable plastic containers and explore reusable, sustainable alternatives. Finally, make recycling and composting bins easily accessible for your guests to encourage proper waste disposal. By sorting recyclables and compostables from regular trash, you can significantly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills, making a big impact this holiday season!

By Chelsea Hafer