Recycling 101

Official Service Provider — Education resources and Recycle Right disposal guidance
Recycling & Disposal Guides
Use the tabs below for quick, accurate guidance on what goes where. These resources help reduce contamination and protect public health.
What Goes in the Blue Recycling Can?
Not sure what belongs in your blue recycling can? Use this quick guide to recycle correctly.
Accepted Items
- Plastic tubs, jugs, & bottles
- Tin/steel, aluminum, & empty aerosol cans
- Cardboard, mixed paper, paper bags
No plastic bags. Place items loosely in the can or in a paper bag.
Glass Recycling 101
Glass must be collected separately from your blue recycling can.
Accepted
- Glass bottles & jars (all colors)
- Lightly rinsed — labels OK
Keep Out
- Windows, mirrors, ceramics
- Light bulbs
- Pyrex & treated glass
Glass is collected separately to reduce contamination.
Green Waste 101
Green waste is turned into mulch and compost instead of going to the landfill.
Accepted
- Grass & leaves
- Small branches
- Garden trimmings
Keep Out
- Dirt, rocks, sod
- Plastic bags
- Trash & non-organics
Only clean, natural yard waste—no trash or contaminants.
Composting 101
Composting turns food scraps and organics into valuable soil.
Good for Compost
- Fruit & vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds & filters
- Eggshells
- Yard trimmings
Keep Out
- Meat, dairy, grease
- Pet waste
- Plastics, metals, glass
Hazardous Waste 101
Hazardous waste must never go in your trash or recycling cans.
Examples
- Paint, solvents, thinners
- Motor oil & antifreeze
- Pesticides & fertilizers
- Batteries & electronics
- Propane tanks & fluorescent bulbs
Take hazardous waste to an authorized HHW facility or collection event.
Not Sure How to Dispose of Something? We’ve Got You Covered!
Use our Recycle Right Tool to get accurate, hassle-free guidance on how to handle many common materials.
Find out:
- ✔ Can it be recycled?
- ✔ Where to drop it off?
- ✔ How to properly dispose of it?
Just enter the material in the tool below, and we’ll guide you step-by-step to an appropriate option.
How To Recycle
Electronic Recycling Information
Recycle Solutions
2066 W 2300 S
Mon–Fri • 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays & Holidays
Phone: 801-590-8847
Electronic Recycling
8805 South 700 West
Mon–Sat • 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays and all holidays
James Kelsey – Sustainability Coordinator
jakelsey@wfwrdutah.gov
(385) 468-6337
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
Household hazardous waste from any business or commercial operation is accepted by appointment only. To schedule, call (801) 541-4078 or (801) 597-0745.
Electronic wastes from business/commercial operations, as well as any material from outside of Salt Lake County, are prohibited at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
8805 South 700 West Mon–Sat • 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and all holidays
Salt Lake Valley Health Department – Household Hazardous Waste
6030 W. California Ave. (1300 S.) Mon–Sat • 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and all holidays
Trans-Jordan Landfill
10473 S Bacchus Hwy Mon–Sat • 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and all holidays
Trans-Jordan Landfill Transfer Station
8813 South 700 West Mon–Sat • 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and all holidays
Cardboard Box Loading
- Ensure all cardboard boxes are clean and dry before placing them in your recycle container.
- Do not overload the container—your lid must close completely with nothing sticking out.
- Break down all boxes and load them loosely so they can fall freely during collection.
- Place flattened boxes front-to-back inside the container to prevent them from getting stuck when the truck compresses the bin.
- Do not leave boxes outside, around, or in front of your recycling container—everything must fit inside.
Industry News: The Recycling Dilemma
Explore key reports, articles, and videos that highlight challenges and innovations in recycling.