Zero Waste
The Whitefish Farmers Market is a zero-waste market.
All food and packaging meant to be consumed at the market is converted into beneficial compost instead of filling up our land fill.
In 2020, the Whitefish Farmer's Market began its' Zero Waste project to convert the market into a zero waste market.
What is Zero Waste? The Zero Waste International Alliance defines Zero Waste as “The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
By committing to a zero waste Farmer's Market, the market is diverting trash such as plastics and non-compostable waste products from our local landfill into a responsible and reuseable product—compost. That compost can then be used to grow more food for our community. It's a sustainable way to maintain support our community and steward local resources.
So what can be composted at the market? Any food or food scrap can be thrown in the bins. All meat, all dairy, all produce … ALL food substances. All of the food packaging, containers, and serve-ware provided for consuming food at the market can also be composted. These goods are all BPI-certified, TÜV Austria-certified, or Compost Manufacturing Alliance certified compostable.
In an effort to further our impact, below are some compostable product supplier sources for your home and business. While not everything can be found locally, we highly encourage supporting local business resources first. Because some products marketed as biodegradable or compostable still contain micro-plastics and toxins that are unsafe for returning to soils, we require our vendors to use products certified by these sources:
OUR COMPOSTING PARTNER
Dirt Rich
Food scrap pick-up, composting, and compost product
Dirt Rich is a partner of the Whitefish Farmer's Market, picking up all compostables from every market and turning it into valuable compost. They provide both business and residential service in the Flathead Valley. Visit their website for details about how to compost and where you can buy their compost throughout the valley.
COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING RESOURCES
Eco Montana
Distributor of biodegradable/compostable, single-use, food service wares across Montana
Montana Silver Springs
Recyclable Aluminum Water Bottles, branded with Glacier National Park logo
Philipsburg, MT
Businesses can purchase through Fun Beverage
US Foods
Compostable and bio-based disposable servingware and packaging - be sure to check that your chosen product is certified by one of the three entities named above.
BPI-Certified
Search resource for BPI-certified products
Additional Resources
Vendors, let us know about your favorite BPI-Certified providers and we'll add them here!
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Do you have a source for locally-available products? Email us your recommendations.