Park City Community Foundation Launches Food Waste Collection Program as Part of Its Zero Food Waste Initiative for Summit County

Multi-year, Cross Sector Program Starts with Residential Curbside Pickup in Greater Park City

Park City, UT – June 3, 2024 – Park City Community Foundation today announced the rollout of a new curbside food waste collection program as the first phase of its Zero Food Waste initiative. Working together with local government, nonprofits, businesses, and donors, the Community Foundation’s Climate Fund has created and financed the Zero Food Waste initiative after announcing the Zero Food Waste 2030 goal last year. This community-led movement will reduce and divert all food waste out of the Summit County landfill by 2030 to curb methane release and create a healthier community.

Food waste is a major contributor to climate change. When food is thrown into landfills, it creates methane, a greenhouse gas that is much more potent than carbon dioxide. Joel Zarrow, President and CEO of Park City Community Foundation, explains, “Eliminating food waste from our landfill is a tangible way to curb climate impact and protect local water sources. It also makes financial sense. Putting food waste where it belongs is a simple action that has big, rippling benefits.”

Park City Community Foundation has partnered with Momentum Recycling to provide the new curbside food waste collection service. It is currently available to anyone living in the 84060 and 84098 zip codes — with a staged plan to expand into other areas of Summit County. The phased approach will add restaurants, businesses, schools, all municipal areas of the county, and even visitors by 2030.

Residents can sign up now for weekly food waste pickup that will begin in early July. Park City Community Foundation’s Climate Fund is incentivizing the first 1,000 households by eliminating all start-up fees and providing the first month of service for free. The incentive program also has been generously sponsored by Park City Mountain, supported through Vail Resorts EpicPromise. The ongoing cost is $19.50/month for a 5-gallon bin, or $27/month for a 16-gallon bin.

The Summit County Landfill, located above Rockport Reservoir, has nearly reached its operational capacity. Roughly 80% of the solid waste going to Summit County landfill could be diverted, with 40-60% of that being food waste. “Currently trash and food waste are being put in the adjacent, older disposal area,” said Tim Loveday, Solid Waste Superintendent at Summit County. “A new landfill cell will need to be built to accommodate trash at a price of $3-3.5 million in the coming years, with a projected lifespan of 17 years before additional cells are needed. But if we divert all the food waste, we would extend our remaining landfill life to a total of 34 years in the proposed Cell 2 and adjacent area.”

The Zero Food Waste Compact, also launched today, is a pledge that highlights the collective intent and support for Zero Food Waste efforts from residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government officials. Early signatories include Summit County Council, Park City Municipal, Park City School District, Park City Mountain, Deer Valley, Woodward Park City, Park City Restaurants Association, Bill White Enterprises, Recycle Utah, and many other influential organizations. All Summit County residents, businesses, and public sector entities are now invited to sign the compact at parkcitycf.org/ZFWcompact/.

“We are grateful to have Park City Community Foundation leading the way on the Zero Food Waste efforts and bringing everyone together around an achievable goal,” said Roger Armstrong, Councilmember of Summit County, the first entity to sign the Compact. “They are laying a pathway that can be supported by all sectors and will be a model for other communities to follow.”

Andy Hecht, Climate Fund Manager at Park City Community Foundation, commented, “We understand how complex it can be to make systematic changes, and it’s inspiring to see our community come together at all levels to make simple, everyday changes that will lead to real and structural impacts. I envision the Olympics coming to town in 2034 and being able to showcase our community’s Zero Food Waste efforts on a global stage.”

To coincide with the launch, Park City Community Foundation is hosting a climate-focused event the evening of June 4 with Molly Kawahata, a former Climate Advisor to the Obama White House, strategist, and advocate focused on reframing the climate movement around hope. The public is invited to attend and can get tickets at events.humanitix.com/molly-kawahata-hopeful-horizon.

“It is exciting to see a nonprofit kickstarting a waste management strategy and creating a proof-of-concept to change behavior on a community level like this,” said Kawahata, who has been consulting with the Community Foundation as it builds the Zero Food Waste initiative.

To learn more about the Zero Food Waste efforts, register for curbside collection, and sign the compact, please visit parkcitycf.org/zerofoodwaste/ and follow @parkcitycf on social media.

About Park City Community Foundation – The Community Foundation plays a vital role in solving the biggest challenges in greater Park City. It cares for and invests in our people, place, and culture by bringing together local nonprofits, donors, and community leaders to contribute financial resources and innovative ideas to benefit all the people of Park City—now and in the future. As the home of Live PC Give PC, Women’s Giving Fund, the Climate Fund, and other important initiatives, the Community Foundation has generated more than $57.8 million in total impact to the greater Park City community and Summit County since its inception in 2007. Learn more about donating, volunteering, fundraising, and getting involved at parkcitycf.org. For more information about its Zero Food Waste initiative visit: parkcitycf.org/zerofoodwaste/

Media Contact: Christine Coleman, Park City Community Foundation, christine@parkcitycf.org, 415-209-8506.