
Salt Lake City is committed to protecting the public health and safety of its residents, including ensuring access to clean air, clean water and a livable environment. 🌏 This Earth Month, take some time to learn about how we’re working toward our Climate Positive 2040 Plan and tips you can start with today to make positive change in your life, community, and for a healthier planet.
đź’š Want to get involved with local organization?
Check out volunteer opportunities for a variety of organizations and causes at www.slc.gov/sustainability/get-involved/. Don’t see an organization you think should be listed? Let us know! Email us at slcgreen@slc.gov.
♻️ Recycling
Remember, there are things you can do every day that make a difference, whether it’s Earth Day or not. Recycling is one of the easiest steps we can take to divert waste from the landfill and encourage reuse of materials, which conserves resources and reduces pollution in the long run.
- Refresh your memory on what goes in your recycling and compost bins here.
- Hosting an event? Or want to post in your business about what is recyclable? Visit our resources and signage webpage here!
- Do you know how waste management started in SLC?  Before we had convenient curbside compost, recycling, and garbage collection, the City went through several different waste management systems. Learn more about our history here!
â›… Air Quality
Salt Lake Valley faces unique and significant air quality challenges. Every action counts for our airshed so we can all breathe clean air. As summer approaches, pollution from cars, industry, and a multitude of chemical products, combined with high temperatures and bright sunshine, lead to harmful ozone levels.
- Check out our tips and sign up for air quality notifications.
- Also, sign up for email updates for our Clean Air SLC program! Clean Air SLC is an initiative that aims to distribute equipment and information to help Salt Lakers improve air quality in their communities and inside their homes. Currently, applications are open for our Indoor Air Quality Program and our Landscaping Equipment Exchange Program.
- Read up on what we’ve been doing as a City for air quality, including energy benchmarking for buildings, expanding EV charging infrastructure, idle-free awareness, and more.
- Check out The Greater Salt Lake Clean Energy and Air Roadmap (SL-CLEAR) initiative, which is bringing together local governments, regional agencies, experts, and stakeholders from across Salt Lake and Tooele counties to identify shared priorities for reducing air pollution. Learn more, send us your ideas, and sign up for updates at sl-clear.slc.gov/!
🌱 Food
Food waste is a monumental environmental issue. Reducing food waste is an often-overlooked way to reduce the impact of potent methane emissions on the planet and to help others. With the highest percentage of food waste coming from our homes, our food choices are important.
- Visit our Dining with Discretion webpage to learn more about our food systems and tips to reduce food waste. All food comes with a carbon footprint (growing, harvesting, transportation, packaging, and cooking processes) that we should be aware of so we can make informed choices.
- Interested in gardening? Check out Wasatch Community Gardens for neighborhood gardens and other ways to grow your own food. Or, consider ways you can support local businesses and farmers markets. Promoting community-based food production helps increase direct access to fresh foods and minimize the environmental impacts of transporting food over long distances.
🌏 Climate & Energy ⚡
Although climate change is considered a global crisis and impacts the security of the world’s nations, many of the natural resource, public health and infrastructure impacts associated with climate change are being addressed on a local, community level. Did you know Salt Lake City is powering its municipal operations with almost entirely renewable energy?
- In 2024, Salt Lake City officially announced the launch of the flagship Elektron Solar Project, which  has already cut an estimated 100,000 metric tons of climate pollution from the regional electric grid! It’s also saving City taxpayers an estimated $1 million annually as the City sources about 80% of our electricity from this collaborative project.
- Learn more and follow along as we support the Utah Renewable Communities (URC) which is a collaboration among 19 Utah communities and the state’s largest electric utility, working to provide residents and businesses a path toward cleaner energy options. This first-of-its-kind program in the country will mean you will be able to support net-100% renewable energy directly on your Rocky Mountain Power bill. The program is currently in the process of seeking regulatory approvals with the Utah Public Service Commission. Expect some updates over the coming weeks!
- Visit Utah Clean Energy’s website for resources and ways to save energy (and money!), increase energy efficiency in your home, and more. Climate action starts with you — and the small choices we make add up to a collective impact.