The drying of the Great Salt Lake has been a hot-button issue for Utahns in recent years, with a major concern being the health risks associated with dust inhalation from the drying lakebed.

The Great Salt Lake lakebed contains heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, antimony, mercury and cadmium, which are becoming increasingly exposed as water levels drop.

This metal-laden dust can be lifted by the wind, travel thousands of miles and stay suspended for weeks at a time, depending on the dust particle size and weather conditions. These airborne toxins can easily be inhaled and even ingested through produce.

Leafy greens exposed to Great Salt Lake dust have been found to retain these metals even after thorough washing. Some metals from Great Salt Lake dust are soluble in stomach acid, meaning that metals on these leafy greens can be absorbed into the body when consumed. In fact, some metals, including cadmium and lead, can have a three- or four-times higher absorption rate when dissolved by stomach fluids than when inhaled.

This poses a concern for those growing food in the area, as even small backyard gardens can be affected by windblown dust. It is essential to limit exposure and ingestion of these toxic metals. One way to do so is by implementing windbreaks around crops. 

For example, greenhouses and cloth covers can act as a barrier between dust and plants. Alternatively, planting taller, non-edible plants around sensitive crops can provide a more natural option with the same effect. It is also a good idea to avoid using overhead irrigation systems during dust events, as these can push dust particles onto plants.

Recycle Utah, your community nonprofit drop-off recycling center, provides these weekly tips. Visit their website for more information — recycleutah.org.

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As food waste decomposes in the landfill, it produces methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas and major contributor to climate change. In Summit County, food waste makes up nearly one-third of the material sent to the landfill. This is a concern not only for the environment, but also for local taxpayers.

Landfills are sectioned off into areas called cells, which are large pits lined with material to prevent leachate and other contaminants from seeping into the ground. Building a new cell in Summit County costs about $3 million, and our landfill is quickly running out of space for additional cells. Once our landfill reaches capacity, we will be forced to transport our waste elsewhere, significantly increasing disposal costs.

That is why it is incredibly important to divert as much material from the landfill as possible, and food waste is one of the easiest places to start.

Recycle Utah offers free food waste collection, allowing people to drop off a wide variety of organic materials, from chicken bones and eggshells to candy, bread and other food scraps. Summit County residents can also sign up for curbside food waste collection through Momentum Recycling, which picks up food waste directly from your home once a week.

Momentum Recycling hauls food waste collected at Recycle Utah to Wasatch Resource Recovery, an anaerobic digester in North Salt Lake. There, the food waste is placed into an enclosed, oxygen-free tank where microorganisms break it down into biogas and biosolids. The biosolids are processed into fertilizer, and the biogas is refined into natural gas, which goes into the Dominion Energy pipeline and is used to power homes throughout the state.

Recycle Utah, your community nonprofit drop-off recycling center, provides these weekly tips. Visit their website for more information — www.recycleutah.org.

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Every year, people look forward to celebrating the Fourth of July with festive fireworks displays and flashy sparklers. However, there are a few important factors to consider before lighting the fuse. 

So far this year, roughly 80% of the wildfires statewide have been human-caused. Given the ongoing hot, dry conditions and elevated fire danger, Summit County fire officials issued Stage 2 Fire Restrictions last week. This prohibits smoking outside, open campfires, and, among other activities, discharging fireworks of any kind.

Although fireworks are banned in Utah until July 5, it is important to know how to properly dispose of them for future holidays and celebrations.

After use, fireworks and sparklers should be placed in a bucket of water and soaked until they are completely cool. Even dud fireworks should be soaked, as they can still retain heat. Once cooled, be sure to store used fireworks away from homes to prevent accidental ignition and spread.

Used and unused fireworks are considered hazardous waste and should be disposed of accordingly. Fireworks contain pyrotechnic chemicals that make them burst. Often, they contain carbon, sulfur, potassium nitrate, and salts, which, when combined, ignite, explode, and create that iconic array of colors, shapes, and sounds. These chemical compounds can easily ignite in trash cans and landfills. Therefore, they do not belong in curbside trash bins.

Instead, take fireworks to the Summit County Landfill at Three Mile Canyon, where they have a free hazardous waste drop-off for county residents. Additionally, Recycle Utah runs two Hazardous Waste Collection Days each year, and the next one will be the last Saturday in September.

Recycle Utah, your community non-profit drop-off recycling center, provides these weekly tips. Visit their website for more information — www.recycleutah.org.

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Many people are concerned about the risks of wildfire this summer, given the lack of snow during our not-so-exciting winter. Although it is impossible to exactly predict what the upcoming fire season will bring, local fire officials have been working to reduce wildfire risks. Through various treatment methods, officials are reducing forest fuels and forest density to lower fire intensity and make potential fires more manageable. These treatments include thinning and piling, and prescribed burns.

That being said, there are many actions residents can take to mitigate the risks of wildfire around their homes. For those with yards, creating a “defensive space” or tiered buffer zone around your home can slow or stop oncoming fire.

It is recommended that the first 5 feet directly outside your home be non-combustible, which includes replacing mulch with gravel or stone and removing branches, dried leaves and other fuels. The goal of the next 5-30 feet of yard space is to reduce flammable materials. This includes keeping lawn grass 4 inches tall, ensuring all grass and plants are watered regularly, and keeping tree limbs at least 6 feet from the ground. All other space should be kept clear of dried leaves and debris, and trees should be adequately spaced apart.

It is also recommended to go through this yearly checklist to both reduce outdoor fuels and prevent embers from entering your home:

• Regularly clear out dead leaves, pine needles and debris from gutters and rooftops.
• Replace missing or loose shingles on your roof.
• Check the stability of all vents and screens.
• Cover attic vents with wire mesh no larger than ⅛ inch.
• Repair damaged screens and windows.
• Keep flammable materials away from exterior walls.
• Remove anything stored underneath decks and porches.
• Remove or thin any vegetation within 100 feet of your home or other structures.

Recycle Utah, your community non-profit drop-off recycling center, provides these weekly tips. Visit their website for more information — www.recycleutah.org.

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