Recycling Program

Awareness & Understanding

Every day, people in Salt Lake City throw away things that could be recycled — paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, and certain plastics. When those materials end up in a landfill instead, they take up space and release gases that harm the air. Salt Lake already struggles with some of the worst winter air quality in the country because of the valley's geography. Start by exploring why recycling matters: watch the free EPA video "Recycling Basics" at epa.gov and read the Salt Lake City Public Utilities recycling page (slc.gov/utilities). Look up what items your local curbside program actually accepts — the list might surprise you. Write down three facts about waste that you did not know before. You're ready for the next step when you can explain what recycling is, name three materials that can be recycled in Salt Lake City, and describe one way recycling helps the local environment.

Research & Investigation

Now investigate the recycling system more deeply. How does material get sorted and reused after it leaves your bin? Watch the free documentary "Waste = Food" on YouTube or search "how recycling actually works" for short explainer videos. Visit the Salt Lake Valley Solid Waste Management Facility website to see what services are available in your area. Research what happens to items that cannot go in the bin — electronics (e-waste), batteries, paint — and find the free drop-off locations near you in Salt Lake County. Compare your findings: Is your neighborhood recycling more or less than the county average? You're ready for the next step when you can trace the journey of one recyclable item from your bin to its next use, and name two special drop-off resources available in Salt Lake County.

Planning & Preparation

Design a recycling program for a specific place — your classroom, your home, a community center, or a school cafeteria. Start with a waste audit: for one week, track what kinds of trash are thrown away in that space. Use tally marks and sort by category (paper, plastic, food, other). Then design your program: What bins are needed? Where should they go? What signs will help people sort correctly? Use free design tools like Canva (canva.com) to make clear, simple bin labels. Write a one-page program plan including your waste audit results, your bin setup, and how you will teach people to use it correctly. You're ready for the next step when you have completed a waste audit, have a written program plan, and have designed at least two bin labels ready to print.

Taking Action

Set up your recycling program and run it for at least two weeks. Place the bins, post the signs, and explain the system to the people who will use it. Keep a simple log: How full is each bin at the end of each day or week? Are people sorting correctly? When you see mistakes — a plastic bag in the paper bin, a food-covered container — figure out why and adjust your signs or education. After two weeks, measure your results: How much recyclable material stayed out of the trash? Share a quick update with the people in your space. You're ready for the next step when you have run your program for two full weeks, logged weekly results, and made at least one adjustment based on what you observed.

Leadership & Expansion

Now grow your impact. Teach others how to set up a similar program in another classroom, another floor of your building, or a neighboring community space. Create a simple "Recycling Program Starter Guide" — two pages maximum — that anyone can follow. Reach out to Salt Lake City Public Utilities (slc.gov/utilities) to ask if they offer free educational materials or can send a speaker. Look into the Utah Recycling Alliance (utahrecyclingalliance.org) for partnership opportunities and free resources. Consider presenting your program and results to a school board, a parent group, or a neighborhood council. You're ready for the next step when you have expanded your program to at least one new location and have helped at least one other person set up their own recycling station.

Impact & Reflection

Measure and share your total impact. Add up everything your program diverted from the landfill over its full run. Use the EPA's waste reduction calculator (epa.gov/warm) to estimate the environmental benefit in pounds of CO2 saved. Write a one-page impact report and share it with your school, a neighborhood newsletter, or a local environmental group. Reflect honestly: What worked? What was harder than expected? What would you change? Then set a goal for the next six months: Can you expand to more locations, add a composting program, or partner with another school in the Salt Lake Valley? You're ready for the next step when you have a written impact report with real numbers, have shared it with at least one external audience, and have set a concrete next goal.