Iconic is the first word that comes to mind when we think of Recycle Utah, our cherished community hub. All of us, arriving from corporate America, immersed ourselves in non-profit pride as we helped to nourish and build this once obscure and tiny recycling business on Woodbine Way (incorporated in 1990).
Insa leads the way with 18 years at Recycle Utah, followed by Mary with 13 years and Carolyn at eight years. Community interaction (300-400 cars/day) is constant, along with warehouse treasures and resource recovery gratification. Plenty of funky plant holders or pictures, books or eclectic lamps and furniture have been collected over the years, but also the generous donations from popsicles to peanut brittle from regulars for our staff.
The memories and stories are countless from the community gem. Remember when glass recycling ceased in 2012 for a few months due to the Salt Lake City glass recycler closing shop? We were worried. Were our customers going to freak out based on the endless quantities we collected? How many times have we run into a customer/friend claiming that their full bin was three months’ worth? Yeah, right.
Then, six-seven years ago, the Styrofoam densifier broke over the holidays. Now that was timely and fun. We asked customers to stockpile it — big blocks from all the new TVs, furniture, bicycles and more as holiday gifts — and they did! Our back bay was overflowing with Styrofoam, and thankfully it was fixed within two months. Considering that Insa herself used to haul it in her small car to Salt Lake City before densifiers existed, we had progressed.
The holidays. Have you been privy to the line almost out to Kearns? While it can be a stressful time for staff at Recycle Utah, it’s also a bonding time for us. Volunteers like Biruta Strausser, Ellen Sherk, David Nicholas and Jim Vanderwest flourish, not to mention Park City Sunrise Rotary, various Park City High School clubs, and many other volunteers from over the years.
Our busiest time of year brings us immense joy from saving so much landfill waste, but also the camaraderie and making our locals and visitors happy. Recycling feels good to the soul.
What drives us to come to work? With a vision to “empower people to lead sustainable lives,” the sky is the limit with how we translate and enact that vision.
Over 7,000 local kids are reached every year in the classroom or at camps. Over 1,000 adults are reached through various programs like Green Drinks, staff trainings, Green Business certification, tours, and HazMat drop-offs.
Earth Day and 100 Mile Meal fundraisers are fun and celebratory, but also testimonies to our community value.
We are not only able to circumvent over 1,700 tons of materials from entering the landfill every year, but we are a hub that seems to bring satisfaction to many. Our education relays the expectation to conscientiously recycle as stewards of our community and planet — we feel we’ve done our job and strive to continue this vision.
Park City without Recycle Utah would be a tragedy. We as longtimers — along with the numerous others in our community who have either worked here or served on our board— share the loving sentiment for our grassroots non-profit.
We are hopeful that positive and progressive actions are in store for our future, not only to enhance waste diversion and prolong our landfill’s life, but also to maintain the integrity, funk, and CHaRM that Recycle Utah will always represent.
We want nothing more than to follow in Insa’s words: “We are to be of service to our community.”
Insa Riepen
Executive Director 1999-2017
Mary Closser
Education Director 2012-25
Carolyn Wawra
Executive Director 2017-24