Garbage down, recycling up in Salt Lake County

"We want to promote recycling not only for the environmental impact but the economic impact as well," Dyer said.

Chris Bond, vice president of marketing for Metro Recycling, said he thinks people are recycling more.

"I think it has become easier for them to recycle with the cities doing the curbside recycling, but also there are a lot more recycling centers in the valley," Bond said.

Metro Recycling deals in metal recycling, both commercial and residential, and Bond said people are willing to recycle when it is easy.

"Most people, I think, if you asked them if it were easy and cost-effective and rewarding in some way, would you do it," he said. "Mostly people want to do the right thing. They want to help out. It is just making it easy. They want it to be very easy."

If it is not complicated and convenient, "Most people will say, 'You know what? I'll do it.'"

As for what to recycle, both Dyer and Bond said the more that people recycle, the more they will realize that there is a lot they throw away that doesn't have to be put in the garbage.

Twitter: @FinleyJY