2019 Recycling

Survey Report
August 7, 2019

604 West 6960 South p. (385) 468-6325 info@wasatchfrontwaste.org

Midvale, UT 84047 f. (385) 468-6330 www.wasatchfrontwaste.org
Executive Summary
Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District (WFWRD) currently provides
services to 85,708 homes. WFWRD boundaries include the cities of Cottonwood
Heights, Herriman, Holladay, Millcreek, Taylorsville, and portions of Murray and
Sandy; the Metro Townships of Copperton, Emigration, Kearns, Magna, and White
City; and the unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County.

During the month of July 2019, WFWRD conducted a Recycling Survey to obtain
opinions from WFWRD customers regarding increased costs for recycling
services. There were 6,035 responses received.

The 2019 results are as follows:

79.1% support continued recycling services.

95.94% Total with the information as follows:

Question and Choices:

Do you still support recycling services, or would you prefer the materials go to the
landfill?
• Yes, I still support recycling services = 4,772 (79%)
• I support recycling services, but only if the fee is less than sending the
materials to the landfill. = 1,018 (16.9%)
• No, I do not support recycling services, and would rather the materials be
sent to the landfill. = 245 (4.0%)

79.1% would support a fee increase up to $1.50 per month to maintain

recycling services.

Comparison with 2018:

• 79.9% respondents supported continuing recycling. The answers provided
were a yes, or no.

• 70.5% would support a fee increase of up to $.75 per month to maintain

recycling services.

Specific details for each question on the 2019 Survey are on the following pages.
There are a few categories with the 2018 comparisons.

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 1

 District-Wide Support of Recycling by Age Group
100.00% 97.04% 97.29% 96.33%
95.32%
92.88% 91.67%
90.00%

80.00%

70.00%

60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%

20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
18-30 31-45 46-55 56-65 66-75 76+

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 2

 District Avg: 79%
2019 Recycling Support % by Community
0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00%100.00%

4B Lane 100.00%
Big Cottonwood 90.00%
Copperton 86.21%
Cottonwood Heights 83.84%
Emigration 97.56%
Granite 77.14%
Herriman 73.01%
Holladay 85.44%
Kearns 67.26%
Little Cottonwood 68.75%
Magna 63.67%
Millcreek 85.41%
Murray 77.60%
North County 0.00%

Sandy Hills 80.00%

Southwest SL County 71.43%
Taylorsville 72.10%
White City 76.32%
Willow Canyon 66.67%
Willow Creek 75.76%

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 3

 2018 Recycling Support % by Community
0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00%

Big Cottonwood 78.57%

Copperton 84.62%

Cottonwood Heights 90.30%

Emigration 91.11%

Granite 86.27%

Herriman 76.74%

Holladay 84.38%

Kearns 68.88% Average =

79.58%
Little Cottonwood 86.96%

Magna 64.46%

Millcreek 85.04%

Murray 81.09%
100.00%
North County

Sandy Hills 76.32%

Southwest SL County 63.04%

Taylorsville 68.64%

White City 75.53%

Willow Canyon 66.67%

Willow Creek 86.96%

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 4

 2019 Recycling Fee Increase Support % by Community
0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00%

Big Cottonwood 84.85%

Copperton 73.33%

Cottonwood Heights 81.51%

Emigration 96.49%

Granite 75.00% Average =

79.07%
Herriman 74.32%

Holladay 83.97%

Kearns 66.10%

Little Cottonwood 66.67%

Magna 63.03%

Millcreek 86.07%

Murray 79.82%

North County 100.00%

Sandy Hills 85.37%

Southwest SL County 69.05%

Taylorsville 73.70%

White City 74.07%

Willow Canyon 83.33%

Willow Creek 79.41%

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 5

 2018 Recycling Fee Increase Support % by Community
0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00%100.00%

Big Cottonwood 71.43%

Copperton 69.23%

Cottonwood Heights 79.78%

Emigration 88.89%

Granite 72.55%

Herriman 65.22%

Holladay 75.58%

Kearns 56.16%

Little Cottonwood 69.57%

Magna 51.20%

Millcreek 78.03%

Murray 73.63%
100.00%
North County

Sandy Hills 69.74%

Average =
Southwest SL County 56.52% 70.95%
Taylorsville 62.86%

White City 64.89%

Willow Canyon 66.67%

Willow Creek 76.09%

2,173 comments were written.

The following is a detailed report and analysis of the 2019 Recycling Survey.

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 6

Survey Administration
Hyperlinks to the online survey were provided on the District website, Facebook page and
Twitter feed. Additionally, 27,642 emails were sent to customers, which included a direct
hyperlink and invitation to complete the survey. Residents were asked to complete the survey by
July 29, 2019. The following chart represents the number of responses from each area:

Question 1: In what area are you located?

Percentage of Total
Area # Survey Responses
Responses
4B Lane 1 0.02%
Big Cottonwood 33 0.55%
Copperton 30 0.50%
Cottonwood Heights 649 10.75%
Emigration 57 0.94%
Granite 36 0.60%
Herriman 876 14.52%
Holladay 599 9.93%
Kearns 413 6.84%
Little Cottonwood 18 0.30%
Magna 284 4.71%
Millcreek 1,831 30.34%
Murray 228 3.78%
North County 5 0.08%
Sandy Hills 82 1.36%
Southwest SL County 42 0.70%
Taylorsville 730 12.10%
White City 81 1.34%
Willow Canyon 6 0.10%
Willow Creek 34 0.56%
TOTAL: 6,035

The number of responses include all methods of invitation. 4,377 residents completed the survey
directly from the email invitation, 1,370 completed the survey through the District’s website link,
and 288 completed the survey through the social media announcement notification.

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 7

Question 2: What is your age range?

Answer Choices Responses

18-30 473 7.84%
31-45 2,324 38.51%
46-55 1,133 18.77%
56-65 1,091 18.08%
66-75 786 13.02%
76+ 228 3.78%
Total 6,035

What is your age range?

4% 8%

13%

18-30
31-45
46-55
18% 56-65
38%
66-75
76+

19%

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 8

Question 3: How many people live in your household?

Answer Choices Responses

1 451 7.47%
2 2,124 35.19%
3 1,066 17.66%
4 1,144 18.96%
5+ 1,250 20.71%
Total 6,035

How many people live in your household?

7%

21%

1
2
35% 3
4
5+
19%

18%

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 9

Question 4: How often do you set out your curbside recycle can?

Answer Choices Responses

Every Week 4,488 74.44%
Twice a month 1,169 19.39%
Once a month 255 4.23%
Seldom 64 1.06%
Never 53 0.88%
Total 6,029

How often do you set out your curbside recycle

can?
1% 1%
4%

19%

Every week
Twice a month
Once a month
Seldom
Never

75%

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 10

Question 5: Recycling processing fees have increased over the past year. So far in 2019, these
fees have reached as high as $68.00 per ton as compared to the current landfill fees of $32.85
per ton.

The projected cost increase per home/per month could be up to $1.50 to recycle or $0.75 to
dispose at the landfill. ($.75 per month to recycle versus landfilling.)

Do you still support recycling services, or would you prefer the materials go to the landfill?

Answer Choices Responses

Yes, I still support recycling services. 4,772 79.07%
I support recycling services, but only if the fee
is less than sending the materials to the landfill. 1,018 16.87%
No, I do not support recycling services, and
would rather the materials be sent to the
landfill. 245 4.06%
Total 6,035

Recycling processing fees have increased over the past

year...Do you still support recycling services?

4%

Yes, I still support recycling services.

17%

I support recycling services, but only if

the fee is less than sending the materials
to the landfill.
No, I do not support recycling services,
and would rather the materials be sent
79% to the landfill.

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 11

Question 6: If you still support recycling services, would you be willing to support a fee
increase, in the next 2-3 years, to continue the recycling program (up to $1.50 per month for
recycling)?

Answer Choices Responses

Yes, I would support a fee increase to maintain the recycling
program. 4,772 79.07%
No, I do not support any fee increase. 1,263 20.93%
Total 6,035

If you still support recycling services, would you be

willing to support a fee increase, in the next 2-3 years,
to continue the recycling program (up to $1.50 per
month for recycling)?

20.93%

Yes, I would support a fee increase to

maintain the recycling program.
No, I do not support any fee increase.

79.07%

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 12

Question 7: We sent a recycling educational flyer, about plastic bags, in the January 2019
billing statement. Did you receive it? (This flyer is also available on our website.)

Answer Choices Responses

I received it, via mail or email, and I found it useful. 3,481 57.68%
I received it, via mail or email, but I did not find it useful. 307 5.09%
I did not receive the flyer with my statement. 1,002 16.60%
I receive billing notices via Xpress Bill Pay email, and do not
receive a statement. 1,245 20.63%
Total 6,035

We sent a recycling educational flyer, about plastic

bags, in the January 2019 billing statement. Did you
receive it?

20.63%

I received it, via mail or email, and I

found it useful.

I received it, via mail or email, but I did

not find it useful.

I did not receive the flyer with my

statement.
16.60% 57.68%
I receive billing notices via Xpress Bill
Pay email, and do not receive a
statement.

5.09%

2019 RECYCLING SURVEY REPORT - AUGUST 7, 2019 13