Conservation in Action: Operations
Horticulture
Composting garden wasteHorticulture displays are the number one reason people visit the Garden, providing excellent opportunities to demonstrate sustainable gardening strategies. These strategies include:
  • Composting (and reusing on site) nearly 100 percent of the Garden's plant waste
  • Washing and reusing plastic and clay pots
  • Using some propane-powered mowers
  • Utilizing eco-friendly fertilizers
  • Installing rain sensors on irrigation systems
  • Promoting and using native and adapted plants in horticulture displays
  • Providing sustainable gardening educational displays and resources for homeowners and the nursery industry
  • Operating the most extensive public garden recycling program in the nation: the Plastic Pot Recycling program, which collected a record 138,000 pounds of horticultural waste in 2010. To date, the program has saved over 980,000 pounds of plastic garden pots, cell packs and trays from landfills.
Energy

Energy Efficiency:

  • In 1996, the Missouri Botanical Garden's Board of Trustees established an energy policy resolution confirming energy efficiency in its facilities to be a major capital and operating priority.
  • The Garden has invested in energy efficiency through improvement of lighting technology, upgrade of heating and cooling systems and ongoing maintenance of existing systems.
  • From 2000 to 2005, the Garden increased building area by 11 percent while reducing annual energy usage by 22 percent as a result of implementing energy efficiency measures.
Renewable Energy:
  • In 2009, solar panels were installed in the Kemper Center for Home Gardening to offset the power demand of the floral clock, a temporary display installed in honor of the Garden's sesquicentennial anniversary.
  • In 2010, a 25 KW photovoltaic solar system was installed atop the Commerce Bank Center for Science Education offsetting approximately 5 percent of the building’s electrical needs.
Energy Use Reduction:
  • In 2011, the Garden initiated the Turn it Off Campaign to encourage employees to turn off lights, computers and other equipment when not in use. The goal of the campaign is to reduce the Garden's carbon footprint by 10 percent in one year.
Recycling and Waste Reduction
Employee recycling cardboardThe Garden operates one of the most extensive public garden recycling programs in the nation. From office operations to visitor services, over 80 percent of non-organic solid waste collected at the Garden is recycled.
  • Single stream recycling is collected throughout the Garden and at all public events.
  • Over 90 percent of the construction waste from recent Garden projects was repurposed or recycled, including the Spink Pavilion renovation and the Shaw Nature Reserve Edgar Anderson Center construction.
  • Used visitor maps and tickets are collected for reuse and/or recycling.
  • All outdated electronics, batteries and lamps are directed to specialized recycling facilities.
  • All copy paper is 100 percent post-consumer recycled content.
  • All boxed lunch waste is composted.
Janitorial and Cleaning Supplies
The Garden was an early adopter of green cleaning practices.
  • All cleaning products are Green Seal certified.
  • All janitorial paper products contain post-consumer recycled content.
  • Micro-fiber cleaning cloths have replaced disposable rags.
  • Motorized cleaning equipment is certified by the Carpet & Rug Institute.