Zero Waste

Zero Landfill in Grand Teton National Park

Subaru is teaming up with the National Park Service and the National Parks Conservation Association to work toward eliminating trash from our national parks. Grand Teton National Park is one of 3 pilot national parks that have been chosen to lead the way. InSight recently joined a stakeholder meeting up at the beautiful Jackson Lake Lodge. It is clear that this is a unique and exciting collaboration with the potential to do great things for both our local zero waste efforts and for our country’s treasured national parks.

Local food – the “swiss army knife” of sustainability solutions

Today was the first Jackson Hole People’s Market of the summer and fall! InSight teamed up with Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling and non-profit stewards of the local and regional food economy Slow Food in the Tetons to roll out the first phase of going zero waste at the People’s Market. I helped Slow Food plan and receive grant funding to purchase a fleet of Liquid Hardware stainless steel pint glasses to replace all disposable cups at the markets. Folks who forgot their cups could borrow one of these cups for a deposit, and those that remembered were rewarded for their efforts. Only 12 more Wednesday markets to go to try to get people in the habit of bringing their own cups. What a great initiative!

I always enjoy working with Slow Food in the Tetons. From farmer’s markets to cooking classes with local food, Slow Food believes that local food economies operating in the spirit of “good, clean and fair food” are a win for everyone. They result in healthier people, a cleaner environment, and a higher degree of social responsibility. They like to say the local food is the “swiss army knife” of sustainability solutions. I like it!

Showcasing the re-usable cups from the People's Market in a game of "veggie memory" with local kids.

Showcasing the re-usable cups from the People’s Market in a game of “veggie memory” with local kids.

 

Zero waste in Los Angeles

InSight partner Mari Allan Hannah and I just wrapped up a 3-day trip to the US Zero Waste Business Council conference in Los Angeles. We both finalized the course work required for the USZWBC certification, and spent two additional days with sustainability-minded business leaders from around the globe discussing a wide variety of zero waste topics. Personal highlights of the conference were meeting Bridgett Luther from the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovations Institute, spending time with conference key note speaker and zero waste guru Eric Lombardi of EcoCycle, and learning about the Great Pacific Trash Gyre from Captain Charles Moore .

A view from Grand Teton National Park

InSight teamed up with Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, Mac Dukart, to spend the day in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP). We met with GTNP Chief of Facility Management Chris Finlay and GTNP Sustainability Coordinator Margaret Wilson to share progress on the Teton County Road to Zero Waste Plan. We were excited to hear that GTNP is looking into ways to move toward zero waste, and were interested in seeing the work done by the County up to this point. The views of the Grand Teton were stunning from our conference room!

A rough timeline of recommendations and waste diversion from an early version of the Teton County Zero Waste Plan. Created by inSight Sustainability.

A rough timeline of recommendations and waste diversion from an early version of the Teton County Zero Waste Plan. Created by inSight Sustainability.

Zero Waste Resolution in Teton County!

Amazing news! Today Teton County Commissioners unanimously passed the Teton County Zero Waste Resolution. The plan calls for an initial goal of diverting 60% of Teton County’s waste from the landfill by 2030, and for the creation of a Teton County Zero Waste Plan. I’ve been working closely with Teton County ISWR staff and advisory board and inSight partner Mari Allan Hannah to craft this resolution and begin the first phase of the Teton County Road to Zero Waste Plan. I am very excited by this news.