Solid Waste

The Solid Waste Section administers permitting and compliance programs for non-hazardous solid waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities throughout the State. Other areas of activity are technical assistance, public assistance, and the waste tire program.

Along with the local health departments throughout the State, the Solid Waste Section provides response to questions of improper disposal of solid waste and assists citizens in proper methods of disposal.

Permitting and Compliance
Individuals and businesses may not dispose of or incinerate solid waste except at facilities complying with Utah's solid and hazardous waste rules. Non-hazardous solid waste generally consists of municipal trash and garbage; construction and demolition waste; waste from commercial establishments; and industrial waste. Solid Waste disposal sites must obtain permits and are subject to inspection by the Division, local health departments and other government agencies.

Landfills and some other solid waste facilities are subject to location restrictions, design and operating criteria, ground water monitoring and corrective action requirements, closure and post-closure care requirements and financial assurance requirements. Commercial facilities also may need to obtain gubernatorial and legislative approval and pay solid waste fees set by the Legislature. Permit requirements are explained in the Solid Waste Permitting and Management Rules, available from the Division at a cost of $10.00, or off the Internet. Solid Waste Permitting and Management Rules

Solid waste permit applications and checklists of the required information are available from the Division and can be downloaded from the document section of this page. Applications should be submitted to Dennis Downs, Executive Secretary of the Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board, and should be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. Additional review fees of $60.00 per hour, for non-publicly owned facilities, will be assessed based upon the time needed to complete the application review.

The Division reviews all permit applications and may request additional information. Upon completion of the review a draft permit is issued or the permit is denied. Draft permits and permit denials are then subject to at least 30 days of public comment and, if requested, a public hearing. Upon completion of the public comment period and after all relevant issues raised in the comment period are addressed, the permit or denial is finalized.

Technical Assistance
Staff members of the Solid Waste Section will provide pre-design reviews of solid waste treatment, storage or disposal sites and assist owners or operators in understanding the rules and requirements under the Utah solid waste program for siting, design, operation, monitoring, and closure.

Public Assistance
Solid Waste section staff members can provide the public with information on the rules and practices for solid waste treatment, storage and disposal.

Disposal Facilities, Recyclers and Disposal Volumes
The Division maintains lists of the landfills showing contact person, owner, and landfill type; compost and incineration facilities and transfer stations; showing facility type, owner and contact; and closed facilities. If you wish to download any of these files they are available in PDF format located in the table titled Solid Waste Documents.

Utah Waste Tire Recycling Program
In 1990, the Utah Legislature enacted the Waste Tire Recycling Act with the intent of creating a recycling market for waste tires generated in the State and those tires currently in piles. The Act provides rebates for tires recycled and is funded through an $.85 fee on new tires purchased.

The Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste, specifically the Solid Waste Section, has responsibility for several parts of the waste tire recycling program in Utah. Responsibilities include registration of tire recyclers and tire transporters, reimbursement for recycling done outside of Utah, reimbursement for transportation of tires from tire piles at landfills and abandoned piles, and enforcement of the Utah administrative code covering the storage of tires.

For a report of Utah's tire recycling program for FY00 you can view it in PDF format found in the Tire Recycling Documents table at the Utah Department of Environmental Control.

The Division maintains lists of registered tire recyclers and registered tire transporters. If you wish to download any of these files they are available in the Tire Recycling Documents table below.