Environmental Sustainability

Bottle Donation Program

Recycle your beverage containers without the hassle of sorting by depositing recycling bags in collection bins at the landfill or Wide Sky Disposal. Non-profit organizations take turns managing the bins and collect all the revenue from your donation.

Providing clean water to the community takes a lot of resources. Use water reasonably and in accordance with bylaw regulations! Permitted watering hours for lawns and gardens are 7am-11am and 7pm-11pm on days established by your house number:

Even-numbered street addresses may water lawns and gardens on even-numbered calendar days.

Odd-numbered street addresses may water lawns and gardens on odd-numbered calendar days.

Water smart tips: 

Water before 9am to avoid scorching your lawn!

Set your sparkler up to ensure watering is happening to the lawn and not the driveway.

Skip watering after a rainfall.

Use a rain barrel to collect water for the garden.

Community Gardens

The Northern Rockies is home to a growing agricultural community that includes farmers and ranchers! While summers are relatively short, the long summer days provide ideal growing conditions for a variety of garden produce. Residents interested in participating in agriculture and gardening without a home gardening space can access two community gardens at different locations. Interested in maintaining your own community garden plot? Please email us!

Vermicompost 

The NRRM proudly hosts a successful vermicompost (worm-composting) system which facilitates the composting of organics into premium-quality soil enhancer! Green waste can be dropped off at the landfill in designated green bins free-of-charge.

Originally championed by a local citizen (and vermicomposting aficionado,) the NRRM launched the municipal vermicompost trial project in 2017. Using worms, the vermicomposting process transforms waste into fertilizer in about half the time of standard composting. The trial project was hugely successful and the NRRM has been actively diverting green waste from the landfill through the full-scale vermicompost system since 2019.

The entire vermicompost process occurs locally, allowing the Northern Rockies region to not only divert typical organics such as food and yard waste but also uses paper and cardboard as part of the process which would normally be long hauled south to a recycling plant. While occurring in open air without the requirement for heated buildings or fancy equipment, vermicomposting is an extremely energy efficient process. Additionally, the process turns would-be garbage into Grade A composting – creating its own circular economy!

With the northern climate and the remote nature of the area, the Northern Rockies Vermicompost is a true accomplishment in local organic waste management!

Northern Rockies Vermicompost Program Guidelines:

Grass & Leaves (Yard Waste):

1. Grass Clippings:

   - Acceptable: Grass clippings from lawns.

   - Not Acceptable: Grass clippings mixed with synthetic turf, plastic, or other contaminants.

2. Leaves:

   -Acceptable: Leaves from trees and plants.

   - Not Acceptable: Leaves mixed with plastic, metal, or other non-biodegradable materials.

3. Garden Waste:

   - Acceptable: Plant trimmings and garden waste.

   - Not Acceptable: Garden waste contaminated with synthetic turf, plastic, or other contaminants.

4. Spent Flower Baskets (not plastic pot):

   - Acceptable: Spent flower baskets without plastic pots.

   - Not Acceptable: Spent flower baskets with plastic pots.

5. Feathers / Hair:

   - Acceptable: Feathers and hair.

   - Not Acceptable: Feathers or hair treated with chemicals harmful to worms.

Wood Waste:

1. 3” Diameter or Less Unprocessed:

   - Acceptable: Unprocessed wood with a diameter of 3 inches or less.

   - Not Acceptable: Processed, treated, or painted wood.

2. Trimmed Branches & Bushes:

   - Acceptable: Trimmed branches and bushes.

   - Not Acceptable: Branches treated with chemicals harmful to worms.

3. NO Treated or Painted Wood:

   - Not Acceptable: Any wood treated, stained, or painted.

Food Waste:

1. Vegetable Scraps:

   - Acceptable: All vegetable scraps.

2. Table Food Scraps:

   - Acceptable: Food scraps from tables, excluding non-biodegradable items.

3. Coffee & Tea Grounds + Paper Filters or Paper Bags:

   - Acceptable: Coffee and tea grounds with paper filters or paper bags.

4. Meat Including Bones:

   - Acceptable: All meat scraps, including bones.

5. Napkins:

   - Acceptable: Used paper napkins.

6. Wax Paper / Boxes (Milk Cartons):

   - Acceptable: Wax paper and boxes, including milk cartons.

7. Parchment Paper:

   - Acceptable: Parchment paper.

8. Pizza Boxes:

   - Acceptable: Pizza boxes without plastic heavily soiled with grease.

9. Cardboard Cups (Restaurant Takeout Cups):

   - Acceptable: Cardboard/paper or wax-coated cups from restaurants.

   - Not Acceptable: Compostable Plastic cups.

10.  NO Compostable Plastic Cups/Lids:

    - Not Acceptable: Plastics defined as “Compostable”

Cardboard & Paper:

1. Cardboard:

   - Acceptable: Cardboard, Wax-Coated Cardboard

2. Newspaper:

   - Acceptable: Newspaper.

3. Printer Paper:

   - Acceptable: Used printer paper.

4. Kleenex / Boxes (Remove Plastic):

   - Acceptable: Used tissues and tissue boxes (plastic removed).

5. Envelopes:

   - Acceptable: Used envelopes (plastic removed).

6. NO High Gloss Paper (Magazines):

   - Not Acceptable: High gloss paper, such as magazines.

Note: It is crucial to avoid introducing contaminants, such as plastic, metal, and chemicals, into the vermicomposting system to ensure optimal worm health and compost quality. Adherence to these guidelines contributes to the success of the Northern Rockies Vermicompost Program.