Sustainability

Waste diversion is the process of eliminating and redirecting as much material possible from the landfill. We use the common and unique ways listed below to redirect as much waste into reuse. Our waste diversion rate has gotten as high as 80% of total waste diverted from the dump.

All waste stations at the Gardens include recycling receptacles with instructions of appropriate recyclable materials in order to keep the waste streams clean and suitable for processing. It’s important to know your collection agency’s current acceptable materials and check back periodically as they can change. Locally, you can use the Eagle County Waste Wizard to check if and where an item can be disposed of properly.

Hard to Recycle Items

Plant Containers:

The black thin plastic of plant containers and trays inhibit them from being recycled as they are made up of mixed resins and opticial readers cannot identify them. While the plant industry is working towards alternatives, they are currently a necessary evil. The containers we receive are used over and over or returned to the supplier where they are sanitized and reused. There are initiatives spreading through the United States for drop sites where this plastic can be melted down and turned into pellets.

Plastic Pot Fact Sheet

Plastic Film:

Plastic bags and wraps cannot be put into curbside recycling but they can be taken to locations that collect them in bulk. Paper towel packaging, the bags grapes come in, bubble wrap and newspaper bags can be turned into composite lumber for a playground or pellets to make new bags or even pipes. Recycling plastic film can be as easy as taking it with you on your next grocery trip. Check here to find a collection site near you.

Corks:

Cork comes from the Cork Oak Tree and can take up to 25 years until it’s able to be harvested. Once your wine cork has done its job, it can be recycled into boards, flooring, even shoes. Using this recycled cork replaces harvesting virgin materials for product production. The Gardens collects corks from private and donor events and drops them off at a local organization. Find a drop off location near you with ReCORK.

Trash Bags:

Compostable bags line our trashcans and when a more hefty bag is needed, we use Revolution Bags. Rather than virgin resin, these liners use agricultural irrigation tubing that is only used for one growing season. Revolution Bags are made up of 70% post-consumer recycled resin.

Paper Products:

• Marketing materials are printed on recycled paper.
• Copy paper contains at least 70% post-consumer recycled paper.
• All sanitary paper supplies are recycled fiber.
• Facility bathrooms supplied with tubeless toilet paper.

Household Hazardous Waste:

Items such as motor oil, paint, batteries and pesticides are toxic and can corrode, catch fire or explode under certain circumstances. If poured down the drain, these toxins can reach our streams.

The Gardens collects all HHW for proper and safe disposal. HHW can be taken to the Eagle County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Paint can be taken to local stores like Vail Valley Ace Hardware or Sherwin Williams.

Electronic Waste:

E-waste can leach lead and mercury into the soil and water system when improperly disposed. It can also contain valuable non-renewable resources such as gold, platinum, aluminum and cobalt. It’s important to collect these unused or inoperable electronics and take them to your local landfill e-waste department or send to a program such as Cellular Recycler. You could even make some cash!

The Town of Vail hosts two HHW/E-Waste collection events in the spring and fall. Check their website and local newspaper for these annual dates.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens pays close attention to collect all these materials that have a place outside of the landfill. 

Organic waste sent to the landfill emits methane gas, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By keeping this waste out of the landfill and repurposing it back into rich soil, we can help lower the ozone hole depletion and create a closed circle system beneficial to gardening.

Garden Compost:

• Compost produced from garden maintenance is collected and sent to the Town of Vail’s yard waste compost department where it is turned into nutrient-rich soil that’s used in gardening throughout the community.

Business Compost:

• Organic waste including hand towels from the restrooms, serviceware and food scraps are sent to Vail’s Honey Wagon Organics compost collection site. This program is open to the public with convenient collection sites throughout the Valley.

Zero-Waste Events:

• All events and programming produced by Betty Ford Alpine Gardens include compost and recycling.
• We use only BPI-certified compostable serviceware, reducing plastic, landfill mass and chemical use.
• All events also feature a plant-based menu to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

More information:
Create a backyard compost bin and composting in the winter.

Composting at home

High altitude composting

Vermicomposting

‘The Compost Story’ video by Kiss the Ground

Electricity:

• In 2022, the Gardens switched to 100% renewable energy with the  PuRE initiative from Holy Cross Energy.
• Since 2015, the Gardens have used electric maintenance carts and in 2023, the Gardens switched to an all electric garden power tool fleet.
• The Education Center uses energy efficeint Light-emitting Diode (LED) bulbs which use less wattage than other types of bulbs. Several rooms are also equipt with self turn-off mechanisms which automatically turn the bulbs off after a certain amount of time without sensing movement.
• We set a goal every year to reduce our electricity usage by 5%.

Water:

• The Gardens feature six waterfalls. These are sourced through raw water from Gore Creek and run in a circular system to reduce water intake.
• Irrigation systems are equipt with sensors to avoid watering when the ground is already saturated.
• All toilets are low flow.
• Water usage in the Education Center is closely monitored to spot irregularities.
• We set a goal every year to reduce our water usage by 5%.

It can take a lot of resources to keep a world class alpine botanic garden at its peak. Our horticulture team uses best sustainable gardening practices to minimize this usage and to utilize natural systems.

• When necessary, only organic non-synthetic fertilizer is used in order to eliminate toxic nitrogen pollution and harmful run-off.
• Irrigation systems are connected to weather sensors which shut off usage when rainfall is present or temperature is low. Water meters monitor all water features.
• In development of new gardens, waterwise landscaping and a drought-tolerant plant selection are implemented.
• Over half of the gardens are native plants.
• In 2023, added a Water-Wise garden in a new plot next to the Education Center. This demonstration garden was inspired as a way for visitors and community members to see what is possible in their mountain gardens while conserving water.
• Much of garden programming focuses on sustainable landscaping.

Visit our Sustainable Gardening page for more information.

Built in 2015 with efficiency and the natural surroundings in mind. 

• Living Green Roof
• Beetle-kill pine
• South-facing orientation, not only for the Alpine House plantings but also for the benefit of the thermal mass from the large concrete wall
• Partially buried in a hillside, this helps with cooling loads in summer and heating loads in winter
• Bioswale outside to handle storm drainage -helps intercept, slow down and allow some of the runoff to infiltrate into the ground before it goes to Gore Creek
• Drought tolerant adaptable plant selection with the majority of the plant palette indigenous to the Rocky Mountains
• Landscaping boulders sourced within a 200 mile radius
• Efficient irrigation with emphasis on drip irrigation to help reduce water usage
• Energy recovery ventilator to provide mechanical ventilation as an extremely efficient way to provide better indoor air quality
• Air-to-air heat pump as a very efficient means of heating the building with electricity
• High-performing glass for windows and doors
• LED lighting
• Low flow toilets

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Gift Shop in Vail Village & Schoolhouse Gift Shop in the Children’s Garden

Both stores offer a variety of local & nationally sourced items that support the gardens work in education, horticulture and conservation.

Locally Sourced:
The Gift Shops feature items from artists and producers in Vail Valley, neighboring valleys and Colorado. In supporting our community, we cut down on shipping emissions.

Packaging:

The gift shops use all biodegradable packaging including EPI 100% biodegradable bags from Colorado.

If a producer uses plastic or excessive packaging, we make a call to ask for alternative options.

Single-Use Plastic:

You won’t find single-use plastic or styrofoam in our operations! We opt for more easily recycled aluminum or paper-based products.