Summit County urges residents to reduce waste as landfill fills up

Current costs are $40 per ton to manage waste in Summit County, however, when the landfill closes, costs will soar to $150 per ton to transfer waste out of the county.

PARK CITY, Utah — As Summit County’s landfill nears capacity, local officials and residents face a growing waste management crisis. With limited space and rising costs, the county is urging citizens to rethink their recycling and waste disposal habits.

Tim Loveday, Summit County landfill manager for eight years, says the county’s residential recycling pickup program has been refined to the point where 90% of recycled goods are accepted by recycling facilities.

“At the end of the day, I don’t necessarily care if you recycle. It’s all about diversion,” Loveday said. “You can recycle or send it to somebody else’s landfill as long as it doesn’t come here. I don’t have space. When this landfill is full, there will not be another landfill in Summit County. It will all be transferred out.”

The Cost of Waste: A Simple Breakdown

Currently, Summit County manages its waste at the Three Mile Canyon landfill for about $40 per ton. However, once the landfill reaches capacity, the county will need to transfer waste elsewhere. Recent estimates show this could cost $150 per ton – nearly four times the current rate.

To put it in perspective:
– Current cost: $40 per ton (about the weight of a small car)
– Future cost if transferred: $150 per ton

This increase would significantly impact residents’ wallets. The fee Summit County residents pay for curbside waste pickup and disposal could potentially quadruple. Loveday is working to delay this costly transition by extending the landfill’s lifespan as long as possible.

What Residents Can Do

To help extend the life of the landfill and reduce costs, residents can:

– Sort recyclables properly for residential pickup.
– Sign up for the new residential food waste pickup program or compost at home, as food waste comprises 50% of solid waste sent to the landfill.
– Participate in residential glass pickup.
– Reduce plastic bag use. While the total volume of plastic bags in the landfill is equivalent to one Volkswagen Beetle, they are costly to manage.

“We have 60 mph winds that pick up the bags and blow them over the ridge off Summit County landfill property,” Loveday explained. “It costs the landfill $5,000 to $8,000 per year to pick up those plastic bags. Additionally, during severe winters, deer can die from eating through plastic bags to get at food. I absolutely hate plastic bags.”

Loveday suggests using reusable bags or returning plastic bags to stores like Smith’s.

Other recommendations include:

– Participating in Summit County hazardous waste collection days, which cost Recycle Utah $80,000 annually despite partnerships with various organizations.
– Reviewing the upcoming sales tax proposal, which could fund necessary landfill measures. Tourists, who produce a large portion of residential waste, would contribute through this tax.

The alternative to the sales tax is an increase in fees or property taxes to raise funds for the landfill.