Bozeman, Montana, works to implement curbside compost service

The city of Bozeman, Montana, has partnered with Montana State University and Happy Trash Can, Belgrade, Montana, to implement a curbside composting service, which will be an expansion of its current compost program.

According to Solid Waste Division superintendent Kevin Handelin, the initiative comes following a need for the service in Bozeman.

“It gives them many more options,” Handelin told NBC Montana. “There are a lot of residents that still have a volume that they have to bring up here to our facility. We’re hoping we can save them that step and be able to compost and use our services right outside their front door.”

Happy Trash Can’s role would include processing the raw waste collected by the city.

“We’ve always been about the service end up of it and making composting as easy as possible for households and businesses,” said Adrienne Huckabone, co-owner of the Happy Trash Can. “We know that food waste in the landfill is not correctly breaking down as anaerobically decomposing, and that’s causing methane.”

The city has applied for a $90,000 grant from the USDA to get the program running. The newly added curbside service will be optional, but Handelin said the city is working with a consultant to determine the cost.

As reported by NBC Montana, the food waste will be collected in bins similar to the ones many residents already use at home. “So you’d be able to put your grass clippings, leaves, garden waste and food scraps all in one container,” Handelin said.

According to Huckabone, these food scraps serve a bigger purpose.

“All of the compost we make, we distribute out to farmers, our subscribers and local gardeners,” Huckabone said. “Our main focus is to really close that food loop. So it starts with the food waste, and then it goes right back into the local food cycle.”

Huckabone added that she’s excited about the partnership with the city.

“I think it’s a really simple, easy solution and one of the many ways we can help with climate change,” she said.