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Student Sustainability Poster Contest

Students, submit your posters for the Student Poster Session at the Intermountain Sustainability Summit.  Students whose posters are chosen to be displayed will receive free admission to the Summit.  Posters will be judged by an expert panel according to the rubrics below for cash prizes, and by conference attendees for the People’s Choice Award. Deadline to submit a digital copy and an abstract (250 maximum) of your poster is Monday, February 5, 2018. See details for submission at
  

Ogden has many great restaurants whose food we can bring back to our own home or work through takeout. Conservation International’s CEO, Dr. M. Sanjayan, explains through this that packaging from takeout and other single use items make up the largest category of municipal waste in the US. Due to the variations of materials used for packaging and how they’re disposed of, we cannot solve the world’s waste problem by recycling alone. There are also many ways to reduce waste in the packaging industry. In this video, serving condiments in bulk and using refillable water bottles are two simple ways we can lessen our consumption. In addition to positively impacting our environment, this video expands on how reducing waste is economically beneficial as well. 

Visions of wrapping paper, stuffed stockings and Christmas trees captivate holiday shoppers, but after the festivities many of these items become trash. 

Much of what we consume in the U.S. ends up as waste in a very short timeframe; this also includes the items we purchase for the holidays.  

The good news is that much of this waste can be recycled, or even upcycled, according to the CEO of Wasatch Waste Management District, Nathan Rich. The bad news is that much of U.S. waste ends up in landfills and the natural environment.

What is recyclable and where you can recycle it

“Eighty percent of the recyclables collected in the U.S. go to China,” says Rich.

China dominates the recycling market, and is increasingly cracking down on the amount of contamination that they will allow in the material stream they receive. Rich says, this is making it harder for waste management companies to make a profit.    

China has imposed an almost total ban on mixed paper, says Rich. Wrapping paper stuffed into recycling bins will almost certainly end up in the landfill, especially if it is shiny. Rich suggests putting wrapping paper in the waste bin to reduce contamination.

Reducing contamination helps to keep recycling profitable. Although it may seem counter intuitive, Jenn Bodine, Weber State’s sustainability coordinator says, “When in doubt, throw it out.”   

A lot of holiday packaging can be recycled.

Cardboard, unlike mixed paper is a profitable material. Much of the cardboard that is recycled stays in the U.S., and is used over and over again, says Rich.  

“You should absolutely make sure you get all of your cardboard in your recycling bin,” says Rich. He suggests crushing it before putting it in the blue bin.

Plastics labeled with the triple-triangle-arrows containing the numbers “1” or “2” inside can be sold, says Rich. He explained that plastics labeled with “3” through “7” are moderately difficult to recycle, but are still accepted by most municipalities.

Plastics with no labels are very difficult to recycle, but can be saved and recycled at CHaRM events hosted by the Utah Recycling Alliance. CHaRM stands for Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials.  

In addition to accepting unnumbered plastics, Utah Recycling Alliance accepts scrap metal, outdated pharmaceuticals and gently used clothing. They even takes old skis. These are upcycled into novel pieces of furniture, according to McIntyre.  

Christmas trees

Residents across Weber and Davis county can upcycle Christmas trees. Some cities pick up the trees, while others accept trees free of charge at green wastes sites. Residents can check with their local municipality for details.

Ogden residents can drop off trees at the green waste site located at 1875 Monroe Blvd, but will need to prove residency.   

Rich says the Davis Landfill gladly accepts Christmas trees free of charge from anyone.    

“Green waste is actually an example of upcycling. You are getting something of no value, and turning it into something of value,” said Rich. He explains that composting green waste takes place locally, reduces methane, and creates valuable products, such as wood chips for landscaping and compost for gardens.    

“We turn around and make a product, which goes back out into our landscapes and helps us with water conservation and soil conservation,” says Rich.