Recycling is big hit in Davis

LAYTON — Recycling doesn't come to the curb in Davis County, but residents are notably good recyclers, and they are doing it cheaper than having it picked up, a new study from Wasatch Energy Systems finds.

Nathan Rich, executive director of WES, said more than 52 percent of the waste generated in Davis and Morgan counties during 2003 was recycled and diverted from the landfill Wasatch Energy operates in Layton. WES is a special service district responsible for disposal of all solid waste in Davis and Morgan counties.

The district operates the Davis Energy Recovery Facility next to Hill Air Force Base that converts garbage into steam and electricity. It also operates the Davis Landfill and the Davis Green Waste Recycling Facility east of Hill. The facility sells steam to Hill Air Force Base and is building a methane gas recovery system to produce electricity.

Last year, Rich said, the WES facilities diverted 125,350 tons of recyclable materials from the landfill. The biggest share of materials, 118,690 tons, was converted to energy in the burn plant. Green waste such as lawn and yard clippings amounted to 5,470 tons of material ground up and made into mulch and other landscaping products that were sold to generate revenues to offset program costs.

Some 1.8 million pounds of metals were pulled out of the waste stream and sold for a $40,000 profit, Rich said. Other items recycled and their tonnage were: carpet pads, 39 tons; tires, 151 tons; and recycling bins, 104 tons.

"I'm often asked why we don't have a curbside recycling program," Rich said. "I think we are doing substantially better because our costs of recycling are lower and our overall recovery rates are higher."

The value of household recyclables such as steel and aluminum cans, newspapers and plastics are minimal, considering the costs of collecting, sorting and reselling the materials, Rich said.

In Salt Lake City, the curbside program diverts out of the waste stream an average of about 50 pounds of material per month. Assuming an average cost of $5 per home per month, "you've just paid $200 a ton to recycle material," Rich said.

"A lot of people are willing to pay that cost and I'm not saying that's not the right thing to do, but I want people to understand a good curbside program will divert only 15-20 percent of materials into the recycle stream," Rich said. "If you bring your waste up here, virtually 100 percent is recycled."