Cottonwood Heights, UT
Home MenuSustainability Resources
Looking for sustainability resources? Browse the below categories to learn more! Don't see what you need here? Please email our sustainability staff or call 801-944-7069.
We look forward to helping you!
Cottonwood Heights has been proud in the past to participate in a Spring Rain Barrel subsidy program with Utah Rivers Council! We want to thank all the residents who took advantage of this amazing program and helped to make our city a more sustainable place.
For residents who missed out on the program this year but are still interested in purchasing a rain barrel -- we strongly recommend visiting your local hardware store or garden center to see if they have any in stock. Though we no longer offer the spring subsidy for 2023, rain barrels at retail price are still a competitive and fantastic way to save on water and contribute to sustainability in your community.
Please check the main sustainability webpage for FAQ. With other questions, please email city sustainability staff or call City Hall at 801-944-7000.
Get to Know Your Recycling Provider
The majority of properties in Cottonwood Heights are served by Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District. To check who provides waste management for your address, use this tool.
What Can Go in Your Recycling Bin?
Check out these resources to learn which materials can be processed in your curbside recycling bin.
Note: Use the below tools only for properties served by Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District. If a different waste management provider serves you, contact them for recycling information or email us (choose Sustainability from the dropdown).
- Recycle Right Tool (search to see if you can recycle something)
- Recycling guide (English)
- Guia de reciclaje (Spanish)
Use these guides for materials you can't recycle curbside:
Prepare Your Materials Before You Recycle Them
Before you toss your items into your recycling bin, check to make sure they’re ready using these steps:
- Pour everything out of your recyclable item before putting it in the blue can.
- Decide whether what's left inside can still smear or soil paper recyclables. If so, it's too dirty to recycle.
- Put recyclable items that have to be cleaned using excessive water in the trash instead.
- Wipe items with a paper towel or dishrag or swish them in used dishwater to clean before recycling.
Boost Your Service with Additional Curbside Bins
Recycling for Kids
Teaching kids to recycle and reduce waste is not only important, it can also be fun!
Landscaping adds beauty and function our community. With so many styles of landscaping to choose from, it can be difficult to choose one method for your yard. One of the most sustainable method is water conservation gardening (sometimes called waterwise landscaping, localscaping, or xeriscaping). Learn more about this low-water method below.
Why Water Conservation Matters
Did you know that Utah is one of the most arid states in our nation? In some reports, it’s ranked as the second driest state, second only to Nevada! In such a dry state, you may be shocked to learn that more than 60% of Utah’s potable “culinary” water goes toward outdoor landscaping. By changing the way we landscape our yards, we can save our valuable water supply.
Resources to Get Started
Maybe you’re interested in implementing a water-wise landscape in your yard, but don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry. The resources are as endless as the types of plants you can choose from!
- Water use check
- Outdoor water conservation tips
- Lawn watering guide
- Compatible plant species
- Qualified water-efficient landscapers
Incentives and Rebate Programs
Conserving water and saving money on your monthly water bill are built-in incentives for implementing water-wise landscaping. As if those weren’t enough, Central Utah Water Conservancy District administers the following programs to sweeten the deal. For questions on these programs, contact water conservation coordinator Zack Seipert at 801-226-7100, ext. 186, or zack@cuwcd.com.
- Smart controller rebates
- Landscape Incentive Program (includes park strips)
Visit a Water Conservation Garden
Need a little inspiration? Visiting a thriving water-wise garden might be all you need to start one in your own yard. Check out these gardens to get ideas and support local businesses all at once!
For many of us, our primary form of transportation might be a car. Although cars add convenience and opportunity to our lives, they also produce damaging emissions that harm our environment. Incorporating alternative modes of transportation in your routine can help greatly reduce these emissions, and there are alternative transportation options for every lifestyle. Find the one that suits yours using these helpful tools.
Alternative transportation at a glance
Public Transportation
The first public transportation system in the United States was built in Boston in the early 1600s. Ever since then, public transportation has been a popular way for urbanites to commute. But public transportation isn’t just for metropolis living. Using the links below, you can find a public transportation route that serves the suburbs too!
- Public transportation 101
- Plan your public transportation route
- UTA public transportation schedules and maps
Active Transportation
Active transportation is any method that uses self-propelled, physical activity for transportation. Whether you walk, bike, run, or unicycle, active transportation is the perfect way to reap the benefits of exercise and sustainability. Don't forget deodorant!
Carpooling
Think your days of carpooling are long gone? Think again! Carpooling can be a great way to reduce emissions from separate vehicles while also socializing with family members, roommates, or friends. Some workplaces and campuses even offer discounted parking passes for carpooling patrons! Check with your commuter services department to find out if they participate in this incentive.
Trip Chaining
Trip chaining might be one of the simplest alternative transportation strategies. When you trip-chain, you complete several errands within a single vehicular trip by grouping similar locations together. Maybe your dentist is also near your pilates studio and also within a few blocks of a new boutique you’ve been wanting to check out. Schedule a dental appointment for the same afternoon as your pilates class, and stop by the boutique afterward. Three stops, one trip!
Incorporating sustainability around your home can be as easy as screwing in a lightbulb. There are sustainability projects for every type of living space, budget, and timeline. Whether you're building from scratch or retrofitting an existing space, the options for sustainability are nearly as endless as the paint chips you’ve been flipping through.
Lighting
The type of lighting you use is an important decision — from the lightbulb to the fixture itself. LEDs are a popular choice for energy savings, but it’s important to choose LEDs carefully, especially when using them for outdoor lighting. Above all else, remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room!
Heating and Cooling
Despite the frustrations that "thermostat battles" cause between spouses and roommates, there really is a strategy to the way a thermostat should fluctuate throughout the day. Using a smart thermostat and maybe even an efficient HVAC system are great ways to boost at-home sustainability.
Dishwashing
Whether you have a dishwasher installed in your kitchen, or you are considered the household dishwasher, there are sustainable tips to help you make the most of your suds and supplies.
Washers and Dryers
Aside from the basic strategy of grouping compatible loads together to eliminate excessive use, selecting an efficient washer and dryer can ease some of the environmental burden of those frequent spaghetti stains.
Water Heaters
Anyone who’s ever run out of hot water mid-shower knows the importance of a well-functioning water heater. In addition to considering capacity, consider installing a water heater that boasts added efficiency. It may also be worth spacing out hot water use, preventing the classic “running the tap until the hot water returns” scenario.
Enclosure
Drafts aren’t just pesky, they’re also unsustainable. Gaps in your windows, doors, frames, and insulation can lead to heating and cooling loss, effectively making your HVAC system work harder to compensate for the loss. Consult your contractor about different enclosure strategies to determine which method is the best fit for your project.
Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are steadily becoming more popular and more available. Unless you can rely completely on public charging infrastructure, you’ll need to install a charger at home. Consider adding this charger infrastructure now. It will not only serve your electric vehicle but might also boost resale value when it's time to move.
Solar Panels
Similar to electric vehicles, you’ve probably noticed solar panels popping up on more and more roofs around your neighborhood. Solar can be a feasible sustainability option for a variety of budgets, climates, and roof styles. Many electricians offer solar services, so check with your favorite one today!
There are many ways you can use energy wisely. To learn about energy efficiency for appliances and fixtures around your home, click the above tab called Building and Retrofitting. Aside from energy-efficiency strategies, you can also participate in innovative methods such as:
Blue Sky Renewable Energy Program
Did you know you can support renewable energy directly through your electricity bill? Rocky Mountain Power customers can elect to add a rider to their monthly bills, which goes toward providing grant funding for renewable energy projects throughout the community. Cottonwood Heights was the recipient of Blue Sky funding, which made our City Hall solar panel installation possible. Thank you, Blue Sky customers, for your support!
Cool Keeper Program
Run by Rocky Mountain Power, the Cool Keeper program helps customers reduce their electricity use while also saving money. Throughout the summer months, Rocky Mountain Power customers can elect to add a Cool Keeper device to their air conditioning unit, which keeps electricity demand down by reducing the unit's operation to 50% capacity while its fan continues to circulate air throughout the home. Learn more about Cool Keeper, including the $30 annual bill credit offered to participants.
Community Renewable Energy Program (House Bill 411)
The Community Renewable Energy Program is a unique partnership between Utah communities and Rocky Mountain Power. Made possible through legislation passed in 2019, this partnership is working to set up a new Rocky Mountain Power electricity program that runs on net-100% renewable electricity.
In 2019, the Cottonwood Heights City Council passed Resolution 2019-66, which outlines the goal of providing the option of net-100% renewable electricity for community members by 2030. This program creates a pathway for Cottonwood Heights to reach this goal, slated to run on net-100% renewable electricity by 2030.
Cottonwood Heights has been a key collaborator in this program since its beginning and is an active member of the Community Renewable Energy Agency, a cooperative of 18 Utah communities who are directing the program design in collaboration with Rocky Mountain Power and state regulators. To learn more about the agency and the program it guides, visit the Utah 100 Communities website.
Utah Subscriber Solar
Whether we grow or raise food, we rely on nature for a good deal of what we eat. Just as their nutritional value differs, so does their sustainability value. The types of foods we select can have a major impact on the environment through their production, transportation, and waste.
Consider Eating More Plants and Less Meat
Adding plants into your diet and reducing meat intake can help reduce carbon emissions, water use, and land use. You don't have to cut out meat completely to reap the benefits of plant-based power. Every little bit helps!
Buy Local Food, Grow Local
When we buy locally grown foods or grow food ourselves, we reduce the amount of miles our food has to travel to reach us and reduce harmful vehicle emissions. Aside from the environmental benefits, buying from local farmers supports local economies and livelihoods, and growing your own food offers a great deal of satisfaction and pride. There's nothing quite like a backyard tomato!
Bring Reusable Containers
Bringing reusable containers when we grocery shop can help limit the amount of package waste on our food, most of which ends up in landfills as non-recyclable materials. Bringing your own container also allows you to customize your purchase to the exact amount you need, avoiding wasted ingredients. Before you fill up a jar at your grocery store, check with management to find out if it's allowed at that location.
Support Sustainable Agriculture
Supporting sustainable farms and their farmers is one way of making sustainable changes worldwide. It can be a daunting world to navigate, with so many different terms and certifications. Use these resources to decode the terminology.
Reduce Food Waste
Food waste is a mammoth problem across our nation. The USDA estimates that 30-40% of our food supply is wasted by retailers and consumers. Buy only the ingredients you'll actually use, cook appropriate portions, and consider composting your food scraps! Composting not only keeps food scraps out of landfills, it also provides you with a nutrient rich landscaping material that will help your garden bloom.