Zero Food Waste initiative launches in Park City: Sign up for curbside collection

The Zero Food Waste initiative will start in July of 2024. Photo: Park City Community Foundation

Multi-year, cross-sector initiative begins with residential curbside pickup in Park City's 84060 and 84098 zip codes

PARK CITY, Utah — June 3, 2024 — The Park City Community Foundation has officially launched its new curbside food waste collection program, the first phase of its Zero Food Waste initiative. This program, part of the Community Foundation’s Climate Fund, aims to eliminate food waste in Summit County landfills by 2030.

Food waste contributes significantly to climate change by releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, when decomposing in landfills. Joel Zarrow, President and CEO of Park City Community Foundation, said, “Eliminating food waste from our landfill is a tangible way to curb climate impact and protect local water sources. It also makes financial sense. Putting food waste where it belongs is a simple action that has big, rippling benefits.”

The Foundation has partnered with Momentum Recycling to provide curbside food waste collection for residents in the 84060 and 84098 zip codes, with plans to expand countywide. Starting in early July, residents can sign up for weekly pickups, with the first 1,000 households receiving free startup fees and the first month free, thanks to a sponsorship from Park City Mountain through Vail Resorts EpicPromise. The ongoing cost is $19.50 per month for a 5-gallon bin or $27 per month for a 16-gallon bin.

Tim Loveday, Solid Waste Superintendent at Summit County, highlighted the urgency of this initiative:

“Currently, trash and food waste are being put in the adjacent, older disposal area. A new landfill cell will need to be built at a cost of $3-3.5 million, with a lifespan of 17 years. But if we divert all the food waste, we could extend our remaining landfill life to 34 years.”

The Zero Food Waste Compact, also launched today, invites residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities to pledge their support. Early signatories include the Summit County Council, Park City Municipal, Park City School District, and several local businesses and organizations.

Council member Roger Armstrong commended the initiative: “We are grateful to have Park City Community Foundation leading the way on the Zero Food Waste efforts and bringing everyone together around an achievable goal. They are laying a pathway that can be supported by all sectors and will be a model for other communities to follow.”

Andy Hecht, Climate Fund Manager at Park City Community Foundation, discusses the effect on the community’s efforts on a larger scale: “I envision the Olympics coming to town in 2034 and being able to showcase our community’s Zero Food Waste efforts on a global stage.”

The Park City Community Foundation is hosting a climate-focused event on June 4, featuring Molly Kawahata, a former Climate Advisor to the Obama White House. The public can attend and purchase tickets here.

Kawahata praised the initiative: “It is exciting to see a nonprofit kickstarting a waste management strategy and creating a proof-of-concept to change behavior on a community level like this.”

For more information on the Zero Food Waste efforts, to register for curbside collection, and to sign the compact, visit the Park City Community Foundation website and follow @parkcitycf on social media.