PRESS RELEASE: Utah Recycling Alliance’s CHaRM Events Divert Over 34,000 Pounds of Hard-to-Recycle Materials in 2025 — a 55% Increase Year Over Year

by Katie Kinnear

Salt Lake City, Utah — 10 November 2025

The Utah Recycling Alliance (URA) announced today that its 2025 CHaRM (Collection of Hard-to-Recycle Materials) events successfully collected more than 34,000 pounds of materials statewide — up from 22,000 pounds in 2024, marking an impressive 55% increase year over year.

These pop-up community recycling events make it easy for Utah residents to responsibly dispose of items not accepted in standard curbside collection programs — including electronics, tires, batteries, bikes, mattresses, scrap metal, and other materials that require specialized recycling. 

To host these events, the URA is proud to partner with various municipal governments, such as Millcreek and Holladay, as well as businesses in the greater Salt Lake City metro area, notably Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Additionally, a range of skilled recycling partners including Recyclops, Assetworx, Atlas Molded Products, Recycle It, and more facilitate the bulk collection, ensuring that all collected materials stay out of landfills and maintain their value as part of the circular economy. 

“At the Utah Recycling Alliance, we’re on a mission to inspire and empower people, organizations, and communities across the state of Utah to embrace a Zero Waste culture,” said James Flock, Executive Director of the Utah Recycling Alliance. “The growth of our CHaRM program shows that Utahns are eager for sustainable solutions — and together, we’re proving that collective action can drive real impact.”

Those interested in participating in the URA CHaRM program have one more opportunity this year - Saturday, November 15^th. Material collection will take place at 5300 S 100 W, Murray (specifically the Woodrow Parking Lot) from 9am to 12pm MST. For a complete list of accepted materials, please visit the URA website (www.utahrecyclingalliance.org). 

“CHaRM events empower people to do the right thing,” said Robi Overson, URA Board Member and CHaRM Program Lead. “Instead of asking residents to hunt down different recyclers for every item, we make it easy by bringing them all together in one place — so you know exactly who’s taking your materials and that they’re being handled responsibly."

About the Utah Recycling Alliance

The Utah Recycling Alliance (URA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing resource conservation, reuse, and recycling throughout the state. URA collaborates with individual residents, municipalities, businesses, and policymakers to build successful and scalable models for waste diversion.

URA’s programs — including CHaRM events, Green Drinks gatherings, Trash Talk educational opportunities, and additional community outreach initiatives — foster a culture where materials are valued and waste is minimized. 

Join us as we create a Zero Waste future for Utah, together.