Nonprofit Know How: Recycle Utah

Professional tips on reducing, reusing, recycling, and rethinking Christmas packaging. Photo: Recycle Utah

PARK CITY, Utah — The not-for-profit Recycle Utah is a CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) hub, and year-round they accept recycling items that can not go into curbside bins. This year Recycle Utah celebrated 30 years of community service and education. Decades of experience prove the weeks after Christmas to be the busiest and most expensive days of the year at the recycling center.

For optimal post-holiday recycling, it’s essential to understand what can and can’t go into curbside recycling and why. Broken down cardboard (no grease), hard plastics, and plain wrapping paper are always acceptable as curbside recyclables. Glass, Styrofoam, and plastic bags are strictly forbidden.

Plastic bags or any plastic that can crush into a ball, like cereal bags or sandwich bags. When placed in the curbside recycling, plastic bags get caught in the sorting facility and can contaminate an entire load of recyclables. So, bring holiday plastics to Recycle Utah and attain peace of mind knowing that they will turn into fuel for a cement factory in Croyden, Utah.

Fortunately, in addition to plastic bags, items that are not welcome at curbside have a place at Recycle Utah. The enormous green and brown glass recycling bins are hauled to Momentum Recycling in Salt Lake four to six times a week during the holidays. Beyond glass and plastic, Recycle Utah is the only local facility that recycles Styrofoam, batteries, old electronics, oral care, contact supplies, and CD’s/DVD’s. In addition, they seasonally accept Christmas lights, skis, snowboards, and poles.

For novice Recycle Utah users, understand that it’s the customer’s responsibility to sort items. The main categories are; aluminum, mixed metal, glass, cardboard, paper, and plastic. Because Recycle Utah provides an essential service, lines to use the facility can be lengthy. Eric Moldenhauer, Recycle Utah’s Communications Director gives expert holiday recycling advice. “When opening gifts, pre-sort paper and cardboard from non-recyclables such as ribbons, bows, and foil wrapping paper. Save gift bags, bows, ribbons, and tissue paper to reuse next year,” he explains, “Pre-Sort all materials at home before coming to Recycle Utah. It can save you 20-30 minutes of your time when doing your holiday recycling.”

There are various options for individuals who want to bolster sustainability in the community. Moldenhauer clarifies, “People can support Recycle Utah in many ways, including monetary donations and volunteering at our Center and at our events throughout the year. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact outreach@recycleutah.org.”

Please remember that Recycle Utah is an idle-free center. So, when visiting, turn off the car!