Missoula kicks off Zero Waste Action Month with local nonprofit

MISSOULA, Mont. — Zero Waste Action Month started in Missoula with the goal of teaching residents how to reduce waste in their everyday routines.

The initiative is spearheaded by Home ReSource, a local nonprofit working to make sustainability more accessible to the community.

Kelli Hess, executive director of Home ReSource, says the path to zero waste doesn't require drastic changes. Instead, she emphasizes that small behavioral shifts can create meaningful impact.

"I think in today's world, this topic can be really daunting," Hess said. "And so the idea of just having the smallest little changes in our behaviors can make it easier. If every person, one time in the month of April, could remember to take a reusable shopping bag instead of getting a plastic bag at the grocery store, that would be a huge difference."

The City of Missoula is supporting the effort as part of its broader sustainability strategy.

Anne Geiger, strategic initiatives manager for the Community Development Division, says reducing waste is critical to meeting the city's goal of achieving zero waste by 2050.

"Zero waste is a very important part of our climate strategy," Geiger said. "When you think about all of the emissions that come from, say, mining, transportation, storage and then disposal of all of the stuff and the food that we consume."

Hess says the month-long campaign is ultimately about preserving what makes Missoula special.

"In Missoula what I found is that people do care about helping to keep our community as green and this beautiful and as sustainable as possible," Hess said. "And so, because it's one of those shared things that we all care about, really putting it into action is what we're trying to make easy."

Home ReSource will host multiple events throughout the month focused on waste reduction, including workshops on building planters and learning about composting. Details about upcoming events can be found on the organization's website or Facebook page.