Recycle Utah is planning to construct a new site right next door to the proposed toxic soils repository at the Gordo property along SR 248. The recycling center told KPCW they will be joining the public in learning about the proposed landfill over the next several weeks.
Recycle Utah Executive Director Caroline Wawra told KPCW although she was aware of the potential for a toxic soils repository on the outskirts of Park City since it was first on city council’s agenda last June, there’s still a lot she doesn’t know -- like how the site could affect the new recycling center planned for right next door.
She said she and the rest of Recycle Utah will be learning alongside the community over the next two months as city hall begins a community outreach and education period about the proposal.
“We’re trying to be as supportive as we can in the 60-day time period the city has to better educate the community and kind of join in with the rest of the community to learn about this,” Wawra said. “I think it all happened really quick and kind of a lot of panic and nervousness about what’s gonna happen here. How does it look? Who’s involved? And we’re kind of joining the rest of the community in learning how this looks for our community and then also for us -- how can we make a safe operation for our staff and our guests?”
Wawra added Recycle Utah is also in meetings with the city, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, as well as outside consultants on the project.
Park City Councilor Becca Gerber told KPCW the city is hoping to use the period to further engage the community and attempt to correct some false information spread around social media, including a mysterious robocall sent to Park City residents about the project earlier this month.
“We’re looking at this as an opportunity for us to correct some misinformation and some misleading information and have a more in-depth discussion,” said Gerber.
Wawra said when it comes to the recycling center, given Park City’s history of contaminated soils, the new facility won’t be planting things in the ground and is exploring creative architecture to help shield staff and visitors from any potential landfill debris.
“I’ve been in town long enough to know that we do have mine tailing soil almost everywhere,” she said. “If you live in Prospector, probably not a good idea to grow your own vegetables in your yard. On this site, we won’t be doing a lot of, you know, an in-place garden or anything like that with food to eat. We’re working with the architects and there’s some creative ways we can build a building in a way where we can kind of act as a shelter from the landfill site.”
Recycle Utah will be fundraising for construction costs for the site in the near future.
More information on the proposed Park City soils repository can be found here.
More information on Recycle Utah can be found here.
