Salt Lake City is maintaining its voluntary curbside glass recycling program through Momentum Recycling as the city pursues a goal of achieving zero waste by 2040. The program, which provides specialized collection to prevent contamination of other recyclables, serves as a key component of the city's long-term sustainability strategy.
Curbside and Drop-Off Logistics
The glass recycling service is a voluntary option for Salt Lake City residents who receive waste services from the municipality. Under the current program, Momentum Recycling provides participants with a dedicated 35-gallon container designed specifically for glass. The service allows for the collection of all colors of glass bottles and jars without requiring color separation by the resident.
To maintain the service, residents pay a monthly fee of $8.24, which is added directly to their water bill. The City of Salt Lake City has noted that this rate is scheduled to increase to $8.49 per month beginning in September 2025. To help offset these costs, the city suggests residents consider downsizing their standard garbage cans.
Collection occurs once a month, and the city provides reminders via email, text, or phone. For the service to be successful, the city requires that containers be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the assigned collection day and kept at least three feet away from vehicles or other objects to prevent property damage. The city also warns residents not to overfill the cans, as the lids must be able to close to prevent spillage in the roadway.
Preventing Material Contamination
The city emphasizes the importance of separating glass from other recyclables to prevent contamination. According to Salt Lake City officials, when glass is placed in standard blue curbside bins with other materials, it often breaks and degrades the other recyclables in the container. This process devalues the entire stock of materials, as end markets prefer that glass not be mixed in.
By collecting glass separately, the city reports that over 95% of the glass collected in Salt Lake City ends up being successfully recycled. This is significantly higher than standard curbside programs, which typically recycle less than half of the glass collected due to pieces becoming too small to recover once broken down in mixed bins.
For residents who do not receive municipal waste services, the city provides various drop-off locations throughout Salt Lake County. The Salt Lake Valley Landfill site on West California Avenue is noted as a heavily used location, particularly during weekends.
A Century of Waste Evolution
Salt Lake City's current waste management landscape is the result of over 150 years of evolving practices. In 1847, residents had minimal waste, often feeding materials to pigs or burning them as fuel. By the late 1800s, the city faced growing sanitation hazards, leading the City Council to establish an official Garbage Ordinance in 1892 following a scandal involving illegal dumping by a contracted railway company.
Throughout the 20th century, the city transitioned from using licensed 'scavengers' to contracted employees. By 1915, the city had formalized collection methods using Board of Health wagon teams. During World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II, waste management shifted to prioritize the reduction of food waste and the diversion of metals for military efforts.
Technological advancements have also shaped the city's approach. In 1980, Salt Lake City upgraded to automated garbage trucks, replacing manual lifting with automatic lifts to increase safety and efficiency. The city also launched a voluntary curbside recycling program in 1993, which was formalized three years later, followed by co-mingled single-stream service in 2001.
The Path to Zero Waste
The city's commitment to sustainability has intensified in recent decades. In 2011, a joint resolution was passed establishing zero waste goals, with a target date of 2040. To support this, Mayor Jackie Biskupski established the Sustainability Department in 2016, moving it from a division within Public Services to a fully-fledged department known as SLCgreen.
Data shows progress in the city's diversion efforts. In 2011, only 19% of Salt Lake City's waste was diverted from the landfill. By 2019, that number had increased to 42% through recycling and composting efforts. The city's current goal is to reach a 50% diversion rate in the coming years.
Momentum Recycling, which began operating its processing plant in Salt Lake City in 2012, serves as the local destination for the glass cullet collected through these programs. The facility helps move the region closer to its zero-waste objectives by ensuring materials are put directly to use as new bottles or industrial materials like insulation.
Ongoing City Governance
While the city works toward its 2040 goals, the Salt Lake City Council continues to manage various municipal updates. Recent items under consideration include ordinances regarding the use of police automatic license plate reader (ALPR) systems and proposals to limit maximum daily water use for new non-residential land uses to 200,000 gallons per day.
For business owners, the city notes that properties producing four or more cubic yards of waste per week are required to recycle under the Business Recycling Ordinance. Momentum Recycling also offers specialized collection services for businesses throughout the Salt Lake Valley to assist with these requirements.
