PARK CITY, Utah – During the holiday season, Recycle Utah experiences a significant increase in demand, with daily visits rising from 400 to between 600 and 800 cars. Chelsea Hafer, the education director at Recycle Utah, noted that post-Christmas, the volume of recycling typically doubles or triples, predominantly due to packaging materials. Researchers indicate that household waste can increase by 25% nationwide between Thanksgiving and Christmas, resulting in an additional 25 million tons of garbage. In Utah, data from the Department of Environmental Quality reveals that only about 5% of waste produced in the state was recycled or composted in 2023, which is notably lower than the national recycling rate of 32%. Most waste sent to recycling facilities in Utah is successfully processed, but many consumers are not participating in recycling. The Department of Environmental Quality encourages communities to assess and enhance the availability of recycling options to boost participation. Midway resident Bernadette Bohanon, who lives in an area without curbside recycling, often transports her neighbors' recyclables to Recycle Utah. She emphasizes the importance of community involvement in recycling efforts. Hafer suggests individuals can make a significant impact by considering waste reduction before purchasing gifts. Options include gifting experiences, such as restaurant or massage gift cards, and choosing items made from recycled materials. Additionally, handmade gifts and higher-quality products that last longer are recommended. For gift wrapping, Hafer advocates for recyclable paper and reusable materials, such as gift bags and tissue paper. Bohanon anticipates returning to Recycle Utah after the holidays with a collection of recyclables from her neighborhood. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality provides an interactive recycling map for locating facilities that accept harder-to-recycle items. While curbside recycling may vary by municipality, the Recycling Coalition of Utah lists six universal recyclable items: cardboard, paper, food boxes, aluminum cans, steel cans, and plastic containers.