Recycle Utah General Manger Jim Bedell said the nonprofit received marching orders from Park City: be out of its current location by Sept. 1, 2026. Bedell said the plan is to close the center on June 30 of next year, giving the organization a few months to remove its equipment and clean up the site.
“We've known for decades, from the moment that Recycle Utah moved into the old bus shed owned by Park City Municipal Corporation, that eventually we'd need to leave, the city would need to repurpose that land, and that time has finally come,” Bedell said on KPCW’s “Local News Hour” Tuesday.
However, the organization is frustrated by the lack of a clear interim or long-term plan to handle the 3.5 million pounds of material it processes every year.
“We are somewhat frustrated because at this point there is no answer,” Bedell said.
“More concerning, there's been no decision yet on the longer-term plan," Bedell added. "You've heard us speak before, and community members have in other forums, about what we truly need as a community, which was investment in diversion infrastructure to allow us to keep a lot more material out of the landfill. That's the bigger question, what do we want to do in the long run?”
Park City Manager Matt Dias said the city has offered Recycle Utah free rent and utilities for nearly three decades and the facility is now outdated, undersized and in the middle of a redevelopment site. He’s optimistic that a better regional facility will happen.
“I hope it's not the end of our relationship, because I think there's a way we can work with the city, we can work with the county, we can work with a nonprofit,” Dias told KPCW’s “Local News Hour” Wednesday. “We can build a regionally significant facility, transfer facility here in the Snyderville Basin.”
Dias said it’s time for a bold, longer-term vision. But the clock is ticking.
At last week’s city council meeting, Councilmember Jeremy Rubell said not only will the closure of the center prevent residents from dropping off their recyclables, but the landfill will fill up quicker.
Because it’s budget season, Rubell asked councilmembers what kind of financial investment they’re willing to support.
“To see if there's support for a discussion around a capital earmark for this purpose, as an investment in our community infrastructure and to support our priorities to the tune of $10 million,” Rubell said. “We just had a discussion around that freeing up from other capital projects that are probably a little further down the road of when that money would be needed.”
Mayor Nann Worel said the city has offered Recycle Utah a 4-acre parcel off U.S. 40, but the offer hasn’t been accepted. Rubell said he has heard the site isn’t suitable for the growing community needs.
Worel said ongoing discussions will lead to a recycling waste diversion proposal – perhaps using small collection sites in neighborhoods.
Councilmember Bill Ciraco said he supports a budget expenditure for a new center, saying it will cost residents one way or another.
“When they are unable to collect recycling, it’s going to probably cost us $750,000 to $1 million a year to haul out that 3.5 million tons of waste,” Ciraco said. “So, the sooner, the better, and the more we step up, the better.”
Before a budget transfer is made, the city’s sustainability director will be presenting different options for the council to consider next month.
