Wednesday, December 13, 2023
How, and where, to properly dispose of food waste and Christmas trees
Urban Living
Posted By Babs De Lay on December 13, 2023, 4:00 AM
Who knew that a single head of lettuce can take up to 25 years to decompose in a landfill! Momentum Recycling—which picks up our paper waste in Salt Lake County—wants to educate us that food waste gives off gasses when it decomposes, like methane.
The greenhouse effect of methane gas is 23 times stronger than carbon dioxide. Food waste in landfills also emit ammonia, which really does a number on increasing our crappy winter inversion air.
So far, we haven't had any home pick-up service specifically for food waste. But recycling-minded individuals in Salt Lake County can dispose of their food scraps by taking them to HelloBulk! at 1185 S. 300 West (a local drygoods and refill store), The Front Climbing Club at 1470 S. 400 West and Wasatch Resource Recovery at 1370 W. Center Street in North Salt Lake.
That latter company has Utah's first anaerobic digester, which can process organic and food waste to turn it into sustainable natural gas and fertilizer. For less than $20 a month, you can get a bucket delivered to your home with another bucket inside of it and a roll of compostable bags. Collect your food waste and then place it on the curb in the larger bucket every week, and voila! The waste will be turned into good gas.
Certainly, you can also throw scraps into your garden. But if you're not one who possesses the passion given to those born with a green thumb, sign up for the service or get your waste to one of the collection sites.
Salt Lake City suspends collection of its brown curbside yard waste bins from Jan. 22 to March 3 to save fuel costs and reduce emissions in the valley, with the exception of dead Christmas trees. Do you have a holiday tree that needs to be composed? They ask that you cut up your tree and place it out in your brown bin, and especially don't over-pack the bin so nothing shakes out.
Make sure that you remove all ornaments, lights and tinsel before you load up your bin. And if you live along the Wasatch Front but outside Salt Lake City, your tree will be picked up the day after your regularly scheduled collection day between Jan. 4 and Jan. 31. Do not put the tree in your waste cans or recycle cans. Flocked trees are no bueno for recycling of any kind.
If the tree is over 8 feet tall, cut it in half and leave it by the curb. And if snow covers it up—uncover it?
Murray, Draper, SoJo and Cache Valley have drop off sites for dead trees. Provo will pick up trees on the curb and St. George has drop offs at the Reuse Center on Brigham Road. Here's a great site for drop off rules around the state: pickyourownchristmastree.org/UtahTreeRecyclingDisposal.
Freshly cut Christmas trees last between four and five weeks if properly watered.
About The Author
Babs De Lay
A full-time broker/owner of Urban Utah Homes and Estates, Babs De Lay serves on the Salt Lake City Historic Landmark Commission. A writer and golfer, you'll find them working as a staff guardian at the Temple at Burning Man each year.
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