Salt Lake City expands recycling programs

SALT LAKE CITY — The capital city is expanding its recycling programs in hopes of cutting its dependence on the landfill in half by 2015.

Mayor Ralph Becker on Tuesday announced the opening of 18 additional sites where residents can drop off glass for recycling. And 33,000 yard-waste containers are being delivered to residents this month, with service beginning Oct. 4.

"Although we have a proactive community in Salt Lake City, we are currently only recycling at a 19 percent rate," Becker said. "We must be more dedicated if we wish to expand the life of our landfill and better manage our waste."

Increasing sites for glass recycling from three to 21 will position a drop-off within one mile of all Salt Lake residents' homes, city officials said. The goal is to recycle more than 6 million pounds of glass each year, using the new bins.

"We believe the city's waste and recycling services will be supported by households, businesses and everyone who contributes to waste production in Salt Lake City, as we realize our daily efforts can make a tremendous difference," said Debbie Lyons, the city's recycling manager.

Residents will be able to use the brown yard-waste bins for leaves, lawn clippings, tree branches, weeds, fruit and vegetable scraps and all other compostable yard waste.

The citywide goal is for 10,000 tons of yard waste to be recycled into compost each year. The new bins also will divert from the landfill an estimated 24 tons of plastic used for leaf bagging, city officials said.

"These daily efforts to recycle glass, yard waste and other materials will provide greater stewardship over our natural resources and add up to big savings down the road as we better manage the waste our growing city produces," Becker said.

The expanded recycling programs, along with garbage collection, are being funded through a flat fee for homeowners based on the size of their regular garbage can.

Beginning Oct. 1, the fee will be $17.25 for residents with 90-gallon garbage cans, $15 for 60-gallon containers and $13.75 for 40-gallon bins.

Salt Lake City residents can opt out of having the yard-waste container, but their monthly service fee will not change.

Garbage collected in Salt Lake City is taken to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill at 6030 W. 1300 South. Green waste is composted at the site.

For more information about the city's recycling programs, visit the SLC Green website at www.slcgov.com/slcgreen

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