Frequently Asked Questions

Utah Residential Glass Recycling:

How do I signup for the residential glass recycling service?

A: You can signup online or call us M-F 8am-5pm at (801) 355-0334.

Pickup Notifications: what types are available and how do I receive them?

A: Momentum Recycling’s mobile app allows you to set the exact time you wish to receive a notification either the day before or the day of your collection day. It is available on both Apple or Android.

Alternatively, if you do not wish to download the app, you can choose to receive reminder notifications of your scheduled pickup day via either phone, text or email.

Notifications can be sent out either the day before or the day of collection at the designated time you setup within the mobile app or the website widget.
Notifications are sent from (801) 335-6480 for phone reminders and from 69620 for text reminders, while email reminders will come from momentumrecyclingut-waste@remember.recollect.net.

If you need further assistance with notifications, please contact us.

Where can I drop off my glass for recycling?

A: There are over 50 drop off sites for glass recycling along the Wasatch front. Click here to find one near you.

Can broken glass be recycled?

A: Absolutely! Broken glass is perfectly acceptable. In fact, our glass recycling system breaks glass down to pieces so small they feel like sand (called cullet).

Do I have to rinse or remove labels?

A: Although it may be beneficial for your home or office to avoid the smells that sometimes accompany food waste, it is not necessary to spend time washing your recyclables. By not washing empty recyclable containers, we can all preserve one of the most precious natural resources: water.

Do I have to remove lids/caps?

A: Yes, that is preferred – and place them in your mixed recycling. Our facility does have machinery that separates lids/caps/corks/etc. during the process; however, we currently cannot separate them by material and so they will end up passing through the facility to the landfill. Any metal extracted during the process using magnets is responsibly recycled locally.

Should glass be bagged before placed in bins?

A: No, please do not bag your glass for recycling as these bags become entangled in the equipment used to process the glass for recycling.

What types of glass are NOT accepted?

A: Most glass in your home is recyclable; however, there are some types of glass that we cannot accept. Here are the types of glass that are NOT acceptable in any glass recycling bin:

Still unsure if your glass is recyclable? – Please contact us for assistance, we’re happy to help!

When is my curbside glass pickup date?

A: Pickup days vary depending on which part of Salt Lake County you live in (with each zone being collected once a month). Check out the interactive map on the Curbside Collection Day Schedule to see when glass is collected in your neighborhood.

Is glass collected on holidays?

A: Glass is not collected on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving Day. If your collection should fall on these days, we will schedule a special replacement route on a different day. We will contact all impacted subscribers ahead of time to inform them about the new collection day. Keep in mind that we can only contact you about the change in schedule if you have a notification setup with us. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding holiday collections.

Why can’t glass go into the regular mixed recycling can?

A: Glass breaks fairly easily, and tends to then become very sharp, posing a significant risk to the person that handles and/or sorts that recycling can. Glass is also very difficult to remove (think needles in a haystack) once the small shards find their way into the mixed recyclables. Because of these reasons, we require all glass recyclables to be serviced in a separate, convenient bin.

Can I subscribe for service at my home and pay with my credit card?

A: Only residents subscribed to our Summit County program (Park City area – click here) can pay directly with a reoccurring monthly charge to their credit card. The service is provided in other existing service areas in partnership with local municipalities and thus are billed directly through your utility bill.

We are continuing to expand the service: you can request service in your area to encourage your local officials to implement the program in your area.

Other Recycling Questions:

Does Momentum Recycling accept food waste?

A: Yes! In fact, we are Utah’s leading food waste hauler. We offer a food waste collection service for commercial properties (business & multi-family complexes). Click here to learn more or contact us for further assistance.

Does Momentum Recycling accept mixed recyclables?

A: Yes. For commercial properties (businesses & multi-family complexes), Momentum Recycling will place a mixed recyclables bin or dumpster at your location. Materials accepted include plastic, aluminum, metal, cardboard, and paper. Pricing starts at just $16.50/month! Click here to see our mixed recycling service offerings or contact us for more information.

Recycling isn’t offered in my apartment complex. Where can I take my recyclables?

A: You can drop off mixed recycling (paper, cardboard, metals and plastic – NO glass!) at Rocky Mountain Recycling, the Salt Lake County Transfer Station, and the public recycling drop off bins at the Salt Lake Valley Landfill and the Trans-Jordan Landfill.

What happens when the recyclables leave my house/workplace?

A: It depends on what material we are picking up. For instance, the mixed recyclables (plastics, paper, aluminum, etc.) is taken to the local MRF (Material Recovery Facility) where it is sorted and batched to be used for products in the future. Green waste is taken to the Salt Lake Composting Yard, adjacent to the SLC Landfill, where it is turned into a rich soil amendment. Glass is brought back here to Momentum Recycling where it is processed into cullet, after which it is used for things like fiberglass insulation, sandblasting, asphalt strengthening, and glass products.

What items cannot be recycled? Which items are recyclable?

A: There are many items that do not fit into the following categories: Mixed recyclables, green waste, glass, e-waste (electronic waste), batteries, and bulbs. Contact either your city’s recycling department or ask us what it is that you are looking for answers on and we would be glad to help. Because different regions/municipalities may have different rules on recycling, it is best to first go to the source.

I’ve heard that recycling is just as bad or worse for the planet than simply throwing stuff away once you consider fuel consumption and energy needed to process the materials. Is this true?

A: Absolutely not. The population of the earth continues to multiply and resources are becoming strained to support that growing populace. Recycling is a way to avoid having to mine/harvest/drill for virgin resources, and the energy that goes into the processing of the recyclables is but a fraction of the energy needed to find, extract, and process raw materials for the same purpose. As far as fuel consumption goes, many of our vehicles run on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), which is much cleaner to burn than diesel, and we take our carbon footprint very seriously. Hauling vehicles are a necessary evil in the world of waste, but we try to keep our routing as efficient as possible.

General Questions:

Besides recycling, what other things can individuals or businesses do to become more sustainable?

A: The popular phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is a handy way to remember how we can all play a part in becoming more sustainable. First, reduce what you use. After all, if you don’t use or purchase something, there is no need to deal with the waste. Second, reusing materials or products is a great way to reduce what winds up in our landfills. Instead of purchasing cheap, one-time use items, buy a more durable good from a local vendor. Disposable products, although convenient, make up a large portion of our household waste.

How is glass made?

A: Common glass is made by mixing sand, soda ash, and limestone together, and heating it to 1700° Celsius or about 3000° Fahrenheit. This glass is called soda-lime-silica and is the glass we typically use on a daily basis. All of the materials that go into making glass are mined. Mining is a very energy intensive process that not only produces greenhouse gases, but also produces harmful by-products like arsenic, lead, and uranium that can leech into our natural environment. Using recycled glass is less harmful in general to the environment.

When I recycle, am I still creating waste?

A: It is important to focus on first reducing the amount of materials you use: that is why the 3 R’s of sustainability go in the order of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycling is a waste disposal method and the most effective because it reclaims materials that would otherwise be mined from the Earth. You should first always try to reduce the amount of material you use. For example, bringing a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic water bottle.

What if I live outside of Momentum’s service area?

A: We are working to expand both our residential & commercial services all along the Wasatch Front. Please contact us if you are interested in a particular service so we can see how best to support your recycling needs. For glass, you can collect your glass at home and transport it to the drop-off location nearest you.

What Utah environmental groups & non-profits can I help support?

A: There are several Utah environmental groups you can support. Below is a list of a few of them (we will add to this list as we become aware of them):

**Where can I recycle items Momentum does not accept?**

Below is a list of local outlets around Salt Lake City who collect other recyclable materials that Momentum Recycling does not. You can also visit Salt Lake County’s Hard-to-Recycle Items page for a list of places to drop off other hard-to-recycle items (motor oil, old medications, etc.).

Material
Electronics
Electronics
Mattresses
Metal
Metal
Styrofoam
Rubber Tires

Location
2350 Bridger Rd
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
2066 W 2300 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
1989 S 4130 W
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
3150 W 900 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
805 Everett Ave
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
2940 Directors Row
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
1450 Beck St
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Phone
(866) 479-4920
(801) 590-8847
(801) 906-8146
(801) 590-4540
(801) 503-9153
(801) 972-1354
(801) 364-7900