Last Wednesday, December 3rd, several community members attended the Climate Conservation and Parks Committee meeting, where the City, Parks and Rec, and Big Sky Baseball discussed possibly replacing Ogren Field’s natural grass with artificial turf. While presenters cited better accessibility and lower maintenance, many concerns remain about safety, environmental impact, recyclability, and the lack of supporting data on PFAS/PFOS, phthalates, and runoff. The community strongly supports the Paddleheads but opposes artificial turf installation until solid evidence and transparency are provided. A follow-up meeting will be held Wednesday, December 10th, from 10:10 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. in City Council Chambers, with public comment encouraged.

The City of Missoula is considering replacing the grass at Ogren Park baseball field with artificial turf. They shared reasons from Big Sky Professional Baseball but failed to mention the serious environmental and health risks artificial turf poses—especially next to the Clark Fork River. There are many costs to artificial turf to our pocket, health, and environment.

On 4/23/25 at the University of Montana UC Theater, the UM Climate Response Club, MT Plastic Free Missoula, and Families for a Livable Climate Plastics Working Group. hosted a mini sustainability fair, the screening of the documentary of "Single-Use Planet" and a panel discussion about current local solutions in the Missoula community.

Written by Youpa Stein:

“As Rep. Marler has stated, “there are times when government intervention is needed for the good of a greater cause.” The scale of the problems with polystyrene, the urgent need to protect health and the externalized costs all point to the need for responsible regulations. In this case we can’t afford to wait for an abstract theoretical future market response when we have a solution at hand…”

HB 477 would phase out polystyrene (styrofoam) food containers. HB 477 isn’t just about protecting our trout streams, our pristine landscapes, or even our own health; it’s about innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of Montana’s economy.

MT Plastic Free Missoula is collecting signatures to get an ordinance on the November ballot regulating single-use plastics in the City of Missoula.

Ten helpful tips to reduce your plastic use!

Our Beyond Plastics Working Group is currently focused on building a coalition of citizens and organizations in Missoula, MT to reduce the harm caused by single-use plastics.

The House Business and Labor Committee will hear HB 638, a bill to phase out Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam) in food-related businesses in Montana. Here's what you can do!