Salt Lake City, UT Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 9.08.095
- Enforcement
- City Code § 9.08.115
- First citation fine
- $25.00
- Recyclables must be
- separated from refuse, green waste
- Glass
- separate glass recycling cart
Summary
Salt Lake City requires recyclables to be separated from refuse and green waste, with only city-approved items allowed in blue recycling carts.
Recyclable items shall be separated from refuse and green waste. Only those items deemed to be recyclable items by the city shall be placed in an automated recycling container. If materials other than the allowable materials listed below are placed in an automated refuse, green waste, glass recycling or recycling container, the service provider may refuse to empty the container until the unallowable material has been removed, and the city may take enforcement action as described in section 9.08.115 of this chapter.
A. The following wastes are the only wastes that may be placed in an automated refuse container:
1. "Refuse" as defined in section
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 9.08.095 spells out what goes where: refuse in the black cart, yard waste and clean fruit/vegetable scraps in the green cart, and only approved recyclable items (paper, cardboard, metal and plastic containers) in the blue recycling cart, with recyclable glass going in a separate glass cart. Mixing in unapproved materials lets the hauler skip your cart until you fix it, and repeat violations trigger civil citations under § 9.08.115.
Violations & Fines
$25 first citation, $50 second citation within 6 months, $100 third citation within 6 months (§ 9.08.115B); service can be discontinued for noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can go in Salt Lake City's blue recycling cart?
What happens if I put trash in my recycling cart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah trash & recycling overview
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Recycling Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle recycling rules.