University of Montana students pitch ideas to help Missoula reach zero waste goal

University of Montana students presented their ideas to help the city reach its zero waste goal Wednesday night, with teams proposing a plastic bag tax, social marketing, and a zero waste certification for local businesses.

The second annual QUEST Pitch Night brought city leaders and Davidson Honors College students together to collaborate on the city’s ambitious Zero by Fifty initiative, which was adopted in 2018 and aims to reduce Missoula’s waste by 90 percent by 2050.

The teams pitched comprehensive recommendations they’ve honed throughout the 2018-19 academic year. Some ideas follow closely with the city’s adopted plan, addressing access, infrastructure, education and policy. Others viewed zero waste from a different perspective.