The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Diverting 95% of waste by 2028
[ By Kendra Walker ]The town of Mt. Crested Butte is developing a zero-waste events plan to implement at events occurring in the town. Town staff presented beginnings of the plan with the town council for input during the March 17 meeting.
Events coordinator Rebecca Gagne and town planner Shannon Hessler explained that staff has set a timeline to reach the goal of all town hosted events to be at a zero-waste status by 2028, and for all permitted events occurring in the town by 2030.
“A zero-waste event would be any event that diverts 90% or more of its waste from being landfilled or incinerated,” said Gagne. “This means most of the waste from the event is either reused, recycled, or composted.”
She continued, “Hosting zero-waste events offers a wide range of advantages that go beyond just reducing trash. It’s a strategic move that can improve environmental impact, save money, boost reputation, engage communities, and leave a lasting positive impact on the planet. Zero-waste events are also a powerful way to teach attendees about sustainable living, from food waste reduction to reusing and recycling.”
The town began implementing composting at events in 2025. “The town saw an increase of $1,833 in expenses to reach our goals of hosting our first zero-waste event,” said Gagne, referring to the 2025 Pickin’ a Food Truck Competition. This event had an estimated 1,000 attendees with six food trucks in 2024 and 1,500 attendees and six trucks in 2025.
For 2026, the town is planning for a baseline diversion percentage goal of 85%, based on the town’s past Pickin’ a Food Truck Competition and Town Picnic events in 2024 and 2025. The goal is to achieve a 95% baseline by 2028 on all town events.
Gagne explained that the town will implement a series of measures at all town-hosted events to obtain these zero-waste goals, including: marketing of the zero-waste plan to event attendees before, during and after the event; composting, recycling and trash; provide water refill stations; require all vendors to use compostable products; limit single use items and seek alternatives; ban the use of single-use plastics at events; and suggest “Zero Waste Stations” at events where attendees can learn more about the initiative.
“One of the concerns I have is we’re so limited on vendors in this valley,” said councilmember Steve Morris. “What is the cost incurred when a food truck has to change their packaging delivery materials for an event? My concern is the cost to vendors.”
“We’re not looking to require this of non-town events until 2030. So we have lots of time before we start implementing or requiring it if we choose to end up requiring it of people,” said Gagne.
She did recognize that if the town decides to require permitted events in Mt. CB to implement a zero-waste plan it can create stress on event organizers both financially and from a planning perspective. She included suggestions to help alleviate that burden, including a user-friendly guide on hosting zero-waste events in Mt. Crested Butte, creating a reward or rebate program for events who reach their baseline goals, and utilizing the town’s Admissions Tax Grant program for financial support.
She also noted that last year, the town did supply compostable dishes to two of the food trucks that didn’t have compostable dishes for the Pickin’ a Food Truck event.
The council was happy with the plan so far.
“If you’re already doing it for events, what would it take to see town facilities be zero-waste?” asked councilmember Valeda Scribner. “Is it just a different scale, a different shift of thinking?”
Gagne said that town staff has discussed that as a potential initiative moving forward. “I would imagine that would take a directive from above…but it’s definitely been something that Shannon and I have discussed. We feel like it’s something that we could do, yes.”
