Wasatch Integrated audit shows contamination issues; district reports 37,000 tons diverted monthly
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Summary
Clearfield council received an update from district recycling audits showing contamination (pizza boxes, greasy cardboard, glass, clothing) is a recurring problem; Wasatch Integrated reported the district diverts about 37,000 tons per month from landfill and will share audit results for Clearfield later this spring.
A council member presented preliminary results from a Wasatch Integrated recycling audit across several district cities and outlined takeaways for Clearfield: contamination in recycling loads remains a significant issue (items such as pizza boxes, greasy cardboard, glass and clothing were commonly misplaced into the recycling stream), and some categories collected are not suitable for the MRF and must be removed.
The presenter said the audit looks at entire truckloads and sorts by material to calculate percentages of cardboard, cans, plastics and contamination. He said the district is diverting roughly 37,000 tons per month from the landfill and that the share of out-of-district waste has fallen to about 20% of previous levels. The audit identified practical steps residents can take (rinse containers; do not place pizza boxes or greasy cardboard in bins; donate clothing rather than placing it in recycling). Clearfield will be included in a future audit batch and the presenter said he would share photos and data with staff for public outreach.
Council discussion included operational notes about sorting technology using weight-based and AI-assisted separators, manual sorters, and the importance of clear outreach to reduce contamination and preserve material value.
