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DEQ.utah.gov -Utah Department of Environmental Quality

The Official Web site of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality

Household Waste

New! Save the Date

RCU is negotiating to have their March meeting in St. George. Tentative dates for this event are March 1 & 2nd.  We will meet in St. George on Thursday evening, March 1st for a reception with the Southern Utah Recycling Coalition Members (SURC). Friday we will tour the new paper mill facilities or hear from invited guest speakers. The tour will also include box lunch. The event should conclude no later than 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 2nd. Details on the location and will be coming shortly via the RCU website at www.utahrecycles.org.

Click here to find out where you can take your batteries for recycling (opens in a new window)

On average, every Utah citizen generates four pounds of garbage daily. With 2 million Utah residents, that means our landfills could receive 8 million pounds daily or 2.9 billion pounds yearly.

About 85 percent of this garbage winds up in landfills. Of the remaining 15 percent, about 10 percent is recycled and 5 percent is incinerated.

Household trash presents another serious problem: between 5 and 15 percent of what we throw away contains hazardous substances which can contaminate air, water and soil and harm people or other living things.

The average household contains 3 to 10 gallons of materials that are hazardous to human health or the natural environment.

The real answer to managing household waste is to reduce the amount we generate.

Here's How:

  1. REDUCE: Buy durable products. Look for items with the least packaging. Buy only what you need. Use cloth shopping bags, napkins and diapers. Compost grass cuttings or get a mulching lawn mower.
  2. REUSE: Save food containers for storing leftovers. Share excess hazardous products like paint, oven cleaner or pesticides with neighbors.
  3. RECYCLE: First, reduce and reuse. Recycle what is left. What you can recycle depends upon where you live and what markets are available.

Solid Waste

Items most commonly recycled include:

Potentially Hazardous Waste

What is hazardous waste?
The Environmental Protection Agency defines it as corrosive, toxic or flammable products that can react or explode when mixed with other substances.

How can I tell if an item is hazardous?
Look for key words like "caution", "harmful", "irritant" or "keep away from children." Also look for a picture of a skull and crossbones.

What do I do next?
Try to substitute a less hazardous product.

What if I don't use it all?
Salt Lake, Weber and Morgan counties have hazardous waste disposal programs. Contact your local health department in other counties.

Where Do I Get More Information?

General Information

Project Environment
1-800-458-0145

Department of Environmental Quality
801-536-4400

Household Hazardous Waste

Salt Lake County
801-313-6700

Weber/Morgan counties
801-399-8169

All other counties
Call local health department

Use Oil Disposal List Available

Utah Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste
1-800-458-0145

Used Tires

Buy at shop that will recycle
Check Yellow Pages

Lead Acid Batteries

Return to dealer
Check Yellow Pages

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