Sustainability in Action: Guest Services

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
• Used visitor maps and tickets are collected for reuse and/or recycling

In 2009, the Garden initiated the Take Back the Tap campaign, educating our visitors on the environmental impact of the bottled water industry and the savings associated with drinking tap water. Refillable water bottles are sold at the Sassafras Cafe, the Children’s Garden and in the Garden Gate Shop. Now four hydration stations have been installed throughout the Garden making it easier for visitors to refill water bottles.

In 2008, the Garden’s Sassafras Cafe became the first restaurant in the State of Missouri to be certified by the Green Restaurant Association. In 2012, we joined the local Green Dining Alliance (GRA), and Sassafras currently holds 4-Star GRA Certification.  Green practices include:

• Reusable plates and utensils
• Napkins and cups with recycled content
• Recycling and waste reduction
• Composting of food waste and disposables
• Water saving features
• Fair Trade Organic Coffee
• Use of natural light
• Visitor education about green achievements

Charge your electric vehicle while you visit the Garden!

The Missouri Botanical Garden's charging stations, located in the west parking lot of the Ridgway Visitor Center, are equipped to charge 4 vehicles at one time. 

If you are interested in more information about charging stations, the Chargepoint Network or electric vehicles, Ameren Missouri has an overview of frequently asked questions on their site.

The majority of Garden visitors stop by the Garden Gate Shop to purchase high quality gifts that are also eco-wise. In addition to offering a wide variety of merchandise made from recycled content, all shopping bags and packing tissue used in the shop are 100 percent recycled content. In addition, the Garden Gate Shop provides incentives to reuse shopping bags and participates in the Eco-Libris program.

First we ask, “Do we need to use paper to achieve our goal? Can we fulfill our communication goals electronically?” Therefore:

• All copy paper is 100 percent post-consumer recycled content
• Most printed publications are printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled content paper
• The majority of class catalogs are now only available electronically