Salt Lake County, UT Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Recycling service in unincorporated Salt Lake County is provided by the Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District using blue carts collected every other week on the resident regular trash day. The program is single-stream, meaning accepted recyclables can be placed together without sorting. Accepted materials are paper including newspaper, magazines, office paper, and junk mail; flattened corrugated cardboard and paperboard; metal cans such as aluminum beverage cans and steel food cans; and rigid plastic bottles and jugs with a neck smaller than the base, specifically those labeled with resin codes 1 PETE and 2 HDPE. All containers should be empty and rinsed. Prohibited items include plastic bags and film, which tangle machinery at the materials recovery facility and must be returned to grocery store drop-offs. Other prohibited items include food waste, yard waste, diapers, textiles, electronics, batteries, scrap metal, hoses, holiday lights, and any item smaller than a credit card. Glass bottles and jars are not accepted curbside but may be dropped off at Momentum Recycling purple bins located throughout the valley, or households can subscribe to Momentum curbside glass service for a monthly fee. Contaminated carts may receive an oops tag and be left uncollected until contamination is removed. Repeated contamination can result in service suspension. The District offers free recycling education, school tours, and bin stickers to help residents recycle correctly.