May Lunch & Learn Recap: ZERO-by-FIFTY

“Zero Waste…or darn near.” -Eric Lombardi, Eco-Cycle International

Every month, Home ReSource invites our community to learn more about local zero waste topics during our Lunch & Learns. In April, Kelli Hess, Executive Director at Home ReSource and Leigh Ratterman, Climate and Sustainability Specialist at the City of Missoula, discussed ZERO-by-FIFTY: Missoula’s Path to Zero Waste.  This guiding document was adoped by the City in 2018, and Home ReSource partners with the City to implement actions to reduce our municipal solid waste by 90% by the year 2050.

This plan is unique to Missoula. Our size, capacity, funding, and state representative support were all considered when creating this plan.

Four Guiding Principles to provide direction and purpose to this plan are as follows:

• Waste is not inevitable.
• This plan will involve ALL Missoulians.
• The plan prioritizes “upstream” and “midstream” solutions like redesigning and reducing, over “downstream” solutions like recycling.
• This plan will stay rooted in Missoula’s values.

2025 is the first benchmark year in the plan, and a task force of 13 local experts is working on Missoula’s first ZERO-by-FIFTY progress report.  Some accomplishments in waste reduction include:

• Zero Waste Events (Green Team): Working with organizers, event vendors, and attendees to reduce waste through compost and recycling. Home ReSource currently supports the Western Montana Fair, PRIDE, the Missoula Marathon, and River City Roots Fest, diverting many tons of waste from some of Missoula’s favorite celebrations.
• Downtown Recycling Stations: In 2023, the Missoula Downtown Partnership and Business Improvement District worked to demonstrate our community’s values to the many thousands of visitors our Downtown sees every year. Expanding recycling stations in our most public places sets important social norms – it shows that we are a City that cares about waste, and gives people the tools to help us reduce it.
• Year-Round Household Chemical Collection: Household Chemical Disposal at Home ReSource is now a year-round service where people can properly dispose of chemicals and mercury-containing products that we want to keep out of our environment and watershed.
• Zero Waste Stations in all MCPS Elementary and Middle Schools: Every elementary and middle school in Missoula County Public Schools is now composting and recycling in their cafeterias.
• Three Positions at the City Dealing with Climate and Sustainability
• Pledge Zero Businesses: Home ReSource offers business consultations, free of charge, to audit a businesses waste streams and offer accessible recommendations to reduce waste.

What’s next?

The Zero Waste Task Force is also working to create a set of near-term recommendations, identifying measurable goals that our community can work toward in the next 3-5 years. We are always hoping to expand community-wide collaboration! If you or your business are interested in being part of Missoula’s Zero Waste efforts, please reach out to Kelli Hess at Home ReSource.

Thank you to everyone who attended this Lunch and Learn and brought their experiences and expertise to share with others. We are looking forward to seeing you at the next Lunch and Learn! This event happens every third Wednesday in Home ReSource’s Community Room.