Sustainability

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  1. SLC.gov
  2. Sustainability
  3. Salt Lake City EPA Recycling

Salt Lake City EPA Recycling Grant

Salt Lake City’s Waste & Recycling division is currently administering a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Recycling Education Grant. This grant, awarded in 2023 and runs through May of 2027 has ambitious goals including:

  • The diversion of 1,547 tons of additional recycleable material from the landfill
  • A 5% reduction in recycling contamination

This grant project supports the Salt Lake City Council’s 2011 resolution to reach Zero Waste by 2040 (Zero Waste is a set of adopted rules and ordinances aimed at reusing, recycling, or recovering all resources instead of sending them to landfills or incinerators.

It also supports the Sustainability Department’s Zero Waste plan, which will map out a step-by-step process to get there should be finished by the end of 2026.

But what does this EPA mean to Salt Lake City residents?

It means you’ll have a chance to:

  • Recycle hard-to-recycle items like tires, mattresses, e-waste and Styrofoam for free, sustainably, thanks to free recycling events put on by the City and our partner, Utah Recycling Alliance.
  • Attend free Fix-it Clinics that will help you learn how to do everything from fix bicycles to mend clothes to repairing small appliances.
  • Attend free Trash Talks that address topics like what can be recycled in Salt Lake City and composting options
Where can I find free recycling events and fix-it clinics?

How we’re doing so far on the grant

So far, as of September of 2026, the Waste & Recycling division, with the help of grant partner Utah Recycling Alliance has:

  • Presented six trash talks to 256 people
  • Held four CHaRM (Collection of Hard to Recycle Materials) events resulting in the diversion of 7.5 tons of material, including tires, mattresses, e-waste and Styrofoam, from the landfill.
  • Collected 9.9 tons of household hazardous waste at community collection events
  • Held one Fix-it Clinics, repairing 12 bikes
  • Collected 27.4 pounds of plastic during our Plastic Free July campaign
  • Collected 2412 pounds of e-waste at three free e-waste collection events

Related

What can I recycle in Salt Lake City?
What goes in my blue recycling cart?
What goes in my brown compost cart?

Contact

  • Chris Barker, Waste & Recycling Division Community Engagement Manager, 801-201-9957
  • mySLC online, scroll down and click on Waste & Recycling
  • For up-to-date info visit SLC Green on X (formerly Twitter) https://x.com/SLCgreen