Only One company founded in Billings, Floating Islands International, uses all plastic from recycled bottles in its of all solid waste product, but ships in recycled material from materials in Georgia. The artifithe state were cial plastic islands it actually recycled produces support the weight of soil and in the last year. vegetation to float in wetlands where the island’s plants filter unwanted nutrients from the water.
19 %
While you’re out exploring Yellowstone... Visit the Moonlight Spa to pamper yourself and your family
Anne Kania, CEO of Floating Islands International, said the idea is based on biomimicry, or using nature’s models to solve human problems. “Our water is in such a terrible state, it needs help,” Kania said. “This is a cost-effective tool that is a sustainable way to clean up our water.” Home Resource makes another form of recycled plastic that stays in Montana and requires little shipping. The Missoula-based company collects and sells reusable building material to reduce landfill wastes. Lauren Varney, executive director at Home Resource, said a lot of the plastics it has include black irrigation and PVC piping. “None of this can be recycled nearby so when people pick these items up here they can be reused as garden piping or closet bars,” Varney said. “All these things we throw away have creative opportunity.” While the story of the soda bottle goes in many different directions, it’s really a simple act on every person’s part, says Mark Nelson, president of Recycle Montana. “To me recycling is just managing our resources, it’s no different than managing your financial resources, it all needs to be done. It doesn’t make sense to bury plastics, but it does make economic sense to recycle it.”
Spa • Pool • Dining • Lodging • Family Activities (406) 993-6000 • moonlightbasin.com
drink in the spirit of butte at
Headframe Spirits Family Friendly Tasting Room Open Mon thru Sat 10-8 Sunday 12-5 Orphan Girl Bourbon Cream Liqueur Neversweat Bourbon Whiskey High Ore Vodka Anselmo Gin call ahead for tour schedule
Hannah J. Ryan is a graduate of the School of Journalism at the University of Montana. A Wyoming native, she is fascinated by natural resource management, unbroken expanses of sagebrush prairie and any issues that impact them. For the moment, Central America holds her captivated, as she interns at the Tico Times, an English newspaper in Costa Rica. hannahjeanryan.wordpress.com
Only s s ’ e tt it Bu d Spir f o ker ille Ma ly Dist al Leg
21 S. Montana St. Butte MT • 406.299.2886 www.headframespirits.com