Recycle Utah has a special surprise for those who attend its 11th annual 100 Mile Meal and after-party Aug. 22 at Red Pine Lodge.
But maybe you can already guess, said Chelsea Hafer, director of education. The recycling center has for years been working on moving from its current location on 1951 Woodbine Way to a new spot. Hafer said they’re finally ready to spill the bins. Er, beans.
At the annual meal, which sources food from within a 100-mile radius of Park City, Recycle Utah will show off the first real plans for the future facility in Silver Summit east of U.S. 40. The new site will sit on a 4.18-acre parcel more than 10 times the size of the existing site.
Recycle Utah originally thought it would have to move by September, but it negotiated with the city in April to remain on Woodbine through March 2027. Then, it’ll pack up, head 5 miles north and set up a temporary facility while the permanent one is built. There won’t be any lapse in recycling service.
The nonprofit has been cooking up the new design for a while. That process included a community survey with over 600 responses, as well as feedback from other local organizations who could have a place at the new location.
Though Hafer said Recycle Utah is waiting to share the renderings at 100 Mile Meal, it has talked previously about ambitions of becoming a community hub with space for other nonprofits. That could mean offices, storage space, a commercial kitchen or other amenities local organizations could use.
“We can add value to the recycling program across the whole county, but we have a chance to do something more,” Executive Director Andy Hecht said in May about the design process. “Our mission at Recycle Utah is to help people live sustainable lives … so, right now, for the new facility, we’re forming visioning groups, and we’re going out and talking to other people working in these sustainability spaces.”
Hafer said it’s been a long process getting here. She sees this year’s 100 Mile Meal as a celebration of the community’s support in getting the project this far.
“We are really grateful for the participation and the patience from our community,” Hafer said. “We’re really excited to reveal the first plans.”
Attendees will take the new Sunrise Gondola to Park City Mountain’s Red Pine Lodge. The evening will start with a cocktail hour from 4:30-5:30, then the meal from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The 100 Mile Meal itself is, of course, still the main draw. The event is possible through a partnership with local farmers, who donate the food, and Vail Resorts, who donates the chefs time and energy. Then diners fund the nonprofit with a ticket to enjoy a one-of-a-kind meal. Hafer said she is always impressed with what the chefs cook up from the 100-mile limitation.
“It’s basically like ‘Chopped,'” she said. “They have like a certain amount of ingredients that they can use … and they have to make something delicious, and they do every time.”
Recycle Utah will also hold a community event a few weeks after 100 Mile Meal to show off the designs again.
Established in 1991, Recycle Utah accepts everyday recyclables as well as items that are harder to process, like aluminum cans, batteries, cardboard and electronics. The center has diverted about 3 million pounds of materials from landfills, and the center averaged 400 visitors a day and held 48 cleanup days in 2025.
Tickets for the 100 Mile Meal are available at tinyurl.com/4cvr8pxc. Tickets for just the Recycle Utah Rendezvous are available at tinyurl.com/4xbjsy2d.