Summit County has launched four new 24-hour neighborhood recycling drop-off sites to make it easier for residents to recycle household glass and mixed recyclables closer to home. The new locations aim to support the county's goal of diverting 7,500 tons of waste per year, a move officials say is critical to extending the lifespan of the Three Mile Landfill and saving taxpayers millions in future disposal costs.
Strategic Location Selection
The new drop-off sites are located at the Ledges Event Center in Coalville, the Kamas Park & Ride, the Ecker Hill Park & Ride, and the Three Mile Landfill. According to the Summit County government, these locations were selected based on a survey of 800 residents to ensure they align with common commute and errand routes.
Summit County Solid Waste Superintendent Tim Loveday said the locations were strategically chosen to fill gaps for residents without curbside service and to provide an overflow option for households when their bins fill up between regular collections. Loveday noted that the Ecker Hill site, located in a high-density area, is expected to be a major driver of recycling volume.
Enforcement and Security Measures
The current sites accept glass, paper, plastics, cardboard, and metal. While the sites are currently open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, officials warned that misuse could lead to changes. Loveday reported that the program has already seen its first instance of illegal dumping, where a contractor allegedly dumped pallets into a recycling container within the first 24 hours of operations.
To combat misuse, the county plans to install security cameras and perimeter fencing at all four locations. Under the county's dumpster ordinance, illegal dumping will result in citations starting at $250 for a first offense. If misuse continues, Loveday indicated that some sites may eventually be fenced and locked overnight.
Long-Term Waste Management Goals
The expansion of recycling access is part of a larger Solid Waste Action Plan designed to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill. The plan, which includes 13 different strategies, aims to extend the life of the Three Mile Landfill by a decade, potentially saving taxpayers $50 million in future waste disposal costs. The plan is scheduled to go before the Summit County Council for approval this August.
Officials emphasized that these neighborhood sites are intended to complement, rather than replace, existing services. While the new sites offer convenience, Recycle Utah will continue to accept approximately 50 types of materials that the remote sites cannot process, including batteries and Styrofoam.
Phased Expansion Plans
The county plans to expand the program in phases throughout the remainder of 2026 and 2027. Separate cardboard bins are expected to be added to the existing sites within the next few weeks. Future expansions will also include select food waste drop-offs, which will be managed through a partnership with the Park City Community Foundation's Zero Food Waste initiative.
By next year, the county intends to open two additional drop-off locations in Park City and the Silver Summit/Silver Creek area. Additionally, as Recycle Utah prepares to relocate from its Woodbine Way facility to a new center near Home Depot, the county will continue to coordinate with the organization to maintain specialized services, such as the glass bin at the Ecker Hill Park & Ride.
Resident Guidelines and Requirements
To ensure the efficiency of the new program, county officials are asking residents to follow specific guidelines. This includes flattening all cardboard boxes before dropping them off, as unbroken boxes can quickly fill the recycling containers.
Residents are reminded to only place accepted materials strictly inside the designated bins. Prohibited items, such as garbage and construction waste, degrade the condition of the sites and increase operational costs for the county.
Accessing Information
For a complete list of accepted materials and a map of the new drop-off locations, residents can visit summitcounty.info/actionplan.
