Bundled Recycling & Garbage Information

2025 Bundled Recycling & Garbage

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is recycling optional and what is the cost?

Recycling is now part of Sunset City’s bundled service, which includes regular household waste collection. This service is $5.68 per month, and all residents will incur this cost regardless of whether they use the recycling service.

By including recycling, Sunset City is taking steps to extend the lifespan of our local landfill, which will save money for residents in the long run while also benefiting the environment.

While you are welcome to return the blue recycling bin if you choose not to participate, you will still incur the cost of the recycling service. We are asking that you keep the blue bin until August 1st, 2025 (or 1 month after your can is delivered). This encourages more effective participation, which leads to advancing recycling in our community. It also allows staff to fully roll out the recycling carts and process the return of any additional black garbage carts so they can be prepared to pick up unwanted recycling carts. 

Sunset City makes no profit from waste removal services, and the inclusion of recycling helps offset landfill costs by diverting recyclable materials, supporting the overall sustainability of our community.

Sunset City received a grant from The Recycling Partnership to help fund the recycling bins and public education efforts. Sunset City makes no profit on water, sewer, and waste removal services. Sunset City will receive a diversion incentive on landfill costs based on the tonnage of recycling material diverted from the waste stream into the landfill, which will help support expenses related to the recycling program.

This change is part of our effort to provide long-term cost savings for residents by extending the lifespan of the landfill, which helps avoid higher disposal fees in the future. Additionally, bundled services allow everyone to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable community.

2. A recycling bin was delivered to my home, but I do not want it. Can I return it?

While you are welcome to return the blue recycling bin if you choose not to participate, you will still incur the cost of the recycling service. We are asking that you keep the blue bin until August 1st, 2025 (or 1 month after your can is delivered). This encourages more effective participation, which leads to advancing recycling in our community. It also allows staff to fully roll out the recycling carts and process the return of any additional black garbage carts so they can be prepared to pick up unwanted recycling carts. 

Sunset City makes no profit from waste removal services, and the inclusion of recycling helps offset landfill costs by diverting recyclable materials, supporting the overall sustainability of our community.

Sunset City received a grant from The Recycling Partnership to help fund the recycling bins and public education efforts. Sunset City makes no profit on water, sewer, and waste removal services. Sunset City will receive a diversion incentive on landfill costs based on the tonnage of recycling material diverted from the waste stream into the landfill, which will help support expenses related to the recycling program.

This change is part of our effort to provide long-term cost savings for residents by extending the lifespan of the landfill, which helps avoid higher disposal fees in the future. Additionally, bundled services allow everyone to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable community.

3. What if I have a second black garbage can and no longer need it?

Typically, the City charges a $9 pick-up and sanitation fee for the pick-up of the black cans, however, this fee will be waived until September 1st, 2025, for anyone no longer needing a black can due to the addition of the recycling bin.

If you have a second black garbage can and no longer need it now that you have a recycling bin, please call the City Office at 801-825-1628 and we’ll arrange to pick it up. 

4. What if I’d like to add or replace a recycling bin?

If you need to add or replace a missing or damaged recycling bin, please call the City Office at 801-825-1628.

Additional recycling bins may be requested after August 1st, 2025, and are an additional $5.68 per month. Additional recycling bins must be kept for a minimum of 6 months.

Each household receives a designated inventory number for their recycling bin. Customers are responsible for the bin that is delivered to their residence and the bin must be properly cared for and remain on your property. If you move, you are required to leave it at your property for the next resident – do not take it with you.

5. What if I already have recycling with Sunset City?

If you already have recycling with Sunset City, you will not receive an additional charge since you are already paying for recycling.

6. Will apartments and/or businesses be receiving a recycling bin? 

If your apartment and/or business has a black garbage can through the City, then you will receive a blue recycling bin as well. If your apartment and/or business has a private dumpster, contact the owner of the property to see who will be disposing of the recycling for your property.

7. I have not received a recycling bin. What should I do?

If you have not received a recycling bin during the month of June 2025 or at the same time as your neighbors, please call the City Office at 801-825-1628 for assistance.

8. My recycling was missed. How do I report a missed pickup?

If your recycling is not collected, please contact ACE Disposal at (801) 363-9995.

9. What are the benefits of recycling?

Benefits of recycling include:

• Extending the life of the landfill and reducing the need for new landfills 
• Conserving energy
• Reducing pollution and litter
• Saving natural resources
• Biweekly recycling collection means residents only need to put out their bin out every other week, which reduces collection time, saving fuel and reducing emissions
• The bin consolidates the storage of your recyclables between pick-ups and protects them from the weather

10. Does recycling actually save resources or reduce environmental impact?

Recycling has a positive environmental and economic impact locally and globally. This allows for recyclables to be recovered, preventing them from ending up in the landfill. 

Some of the environmental benefits of recycling include:

• Conservation of raw resources – Creating products from recycled material helps reduce the consumption of natural resources.
• Pollution reduction – In most cases, mining and harvesting of raw material produces more pollution from manufacturing than recovering and recycling used material.
• Less damage to biological habitats and water quality – In most cases, mining and harvesting of raw material interrupts and harms biological habitats and water quality.
• Reduction of by-products that form in landfills – Less use of landfills will reduce the formation of by-products, such as methane or leachate. These can contaminate groundwater and harm human and animal habitats.
• Cost-effective – It is more cost-effective to process recycled material than it is to harvest raw resources.

Visit the Wasatch Integrated website to see how recycling efforts can make a big difference.

11. Where do recycling materials go?

Recyclable materials are taken to a materials recovery facility (MRF), where they are separated, baled, and prepared for market. Ultimately, those recyclables will come back in the form of new products.

12. What if I have more recyclables than will fit in my recycling cart?

Recyclables left beside the cart cannot be collected. Please make sure the lid of your cart closes. You have several options: 

• Flatten your recyclables to create more space in the cart.
• Retain your excess recyclables for the next collection.
• Take your additional materials to the free recycling drop-off center at Wasatch Integrated Waste.

13. Should I bag my recyclables like I bag my garbage?

No. Please do not place recyclables in trash bags. Instead, leave them loose in the cart.

14. Do I need to remove labels from jars and cans?

No, labels are okay.

15. How clean do containers need to be before they are placed in the recycling cart?

All you need to do is simply rinse and dry the containers. There is no need to wash them.

The basic procedure for aluminum cans involves emptying and rinsing them. You do not need to crush unless you need more space in your cart.

16. Can I recycle glass in my cart?

No. Glass is not accepted in your recycling bin but can be taken to a drop-off location, including the one at Wasatch Integrated

17. Can I recycle plastic bags or plastic wrap in my cart?

Yes. Plastic bags are accepted and can be used as engineered fuel. This is another way to keep materials out of the landfill and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

18. Can I recycle hoses, cords, electronics, or clothes in my cart?

No. These items wrap around equipment at the recycling processing facility, creating a safety hazard for workers and causing facility shutdowns. These items can be taken to the Davis Landfill for recycling or proper disposal.

19. Can pizza boxes be recycled?

Yes, pizza boxes can be recycled and placed in the cart. However, if you have a super greasy pizza box, please remove the top for recycling and trash the bottom. Pizza boxes end up being recycled or used as engineered fuel.

20. Do items placed in recycling carts ever get thrown away?

Yes, unacceptable items are taken to the landfill. Please help prevent recycling cart contamination by:

• Rinsing jars to remove food waste
• Emptying liquids from bottles before placing them in your recycling cart
• Placing organic material or food waste in your black-top trash cart
• Placing plastic utensils and mixed products (paper/plastic or metal/plastic) in your black-top trash cart
• Placing pet waste in the black-top trash cart

21. Isn’t the Wasatch Integrated Waste management facility sorting recyclables out of our garbage?

Initially, the Wasatch Integrated Waste facility was designed to process garbage, which continued until 2022. However, the organics extracted were not sufficiently clean for the anaerobic digester, and the cement kiln was unable to handle as much waste for burning (after recyclables were removed) as initially anticipated. Many cardboard and paper items were contaminated by organic matter. As a result, Wasatch Integrated Waste decided to discontinue garbage processing and shift its focus to clean recyclables through the MRF, given that many organics and waste could not be diverted from the landfill. 

Visit the Wasatch Integrated Waste website for information regarding how they process recyclables and to even take a tour.

22. How do I learn more about recycling?

Recyclables are sent to the Davis Material Recovery and Transfer Facility (MRF). At the MRF, valuable recyclable materials are recovered, baled, and sold to reputable recyclers. Combustible materials without market value are shredded to serve as alternative fuel and are delivered to the cement kiln at Devil’s Slide for use in cement production. Wasatch only places materials in the landfill that cannot be recycled in a practical or cost-effective manner.

To learn more, visit the Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District website and the MRF website.