Our Results
Missoula Compost collected over 3 million pounds of compost in 2023 from households, businesses, and events—a number that grows by at least 10% each year. To put this in perspective, that's equivalent to the weight of 231 elephants (averaging 13,000 pounds each). This incredible effort by our community diverted significant amounts of organic material from the landfill (doomed to sit in purgatory releasing greenhouse gasses) and instead used it to nourish our soil.
Even more impressive are the environmental benefits: these collections prevented the release of 2,145,000 net pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. That's equivalent to the emissions of 180.5 cars driven for an entire year or 2,078,500 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle.
We reduce local greenhouse gasses
When organic waste like food scraps and yard clippings end up in landfills, they’re basically shoved into a dark, airless trash burrito. Without oxygen, they break down slowly, releasing methane—a powerful greenhouse gas 3x worse than CO2.
With compost collection, we introduce organic material into a nice, airy environment where helpful microbes decompose material like they would in the wild. They munch on the scraps, break everything down naturally, and release small amounts of CO2 and water vapor.
Composting is waste management done right; literally helping the planet breathe easier!
We support nutrient rich soil
Compost in the soil adds a buffet of nutrients for plant growth (think nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and more). Compost improves the soil’s texture, turning crumbly dirt into a sponge that holds onto water like a pro. That means plants get their drink without the constant need for sprinklers. It also means the soil is a perfect underground home for microbes, worms, and fungi that help plants grow big and strong while scaring away pests. Plus, it prevents soil erosion and increases nutrient capacity so all the good stuff stays put instead of washing away in the rain.
Basically, compost is the ultimate soil enricher. It feeds, hydrates, protects, and even gives soil extra structure.
Who knew rotting banana peels could be so glamorous?
We protect local land
Compost isn’t just helping your garden; it protects wild lands and wild waters.
Every time we toss food scraps or yard waste in the trash, it gets hauled off to a landfill where it just sits… and sits… and sits. But here’s the twist: instead of breaking down like a champ, organic waste in landfills gets buried, suffocates, and releases methane. Instead of letting all those apple cores and lawn clippings end up in a stinky trash mountain, composting gives them a purpose. Your leftovers get transformed into rich, nutritious soil instead of sitting in a landfill for decades.
Fewer organics in the landfill = smaller landfills overall. And smaller landfills mean less land wasted on giant piles of trash that could otherwise be forests, parks, or natural habitats. It’s like turning trash into treasure and saving space for the good stuff!
Compost keeps landfills lean, green, and way less mean to the planet.
We bring people together
Composting is the ultimate community-builder, turning food scraps into soil and strangers into friends. It brings people together at drop-off sites, community gardens, and workshops, where they bond over sustainability and share tips (and sometimes veggies). By working toward a shared goal (reducing waste and nurturing the planet) composting fosters a movement that inspires action and pride.
Plus, when compost feeds local gardens, it feeds the whole community, creating a cycle of collaboration, growth, and connection.
Who knew composting could build such strong roots?
Join the compost revolution with your solution!
Missoula Compost offers a variety of composting solutions. Whether you’re composting at home, at work, or for an event, we have bin sizes and pickup schedules to suit all needs. One-time or recurring options ensure that materials for any occasion are diverted from the landfill and returned to the soil as valuable nutrients.
