Compostable Products In Missoula
BioBags, Plates, Cups, and Utensils That Actually Break Down
Walk into any grocery store and you'll see products labeled "eco-friendly," "biodegradable," "plant-based," and "compostable." Some of them actually are. A lot of them aren't — or at least not in any way that matters for Missoula's composting system.
The difference between a product that breaks down cleanly at Garden City Compost and one that contaminates the compost stream comes down to three letters: BPI. If a product is BPI-certified, it's been independently verified to fully decompose in an industrial composting facility. If it's not, it might sit in the pile for years, leave behind microplastics, or get screened out as contamination.
We sell BPI-certified compostable products through our shop — bags, plates, cups, cutlery, straws, and more. Everything we carry is guaranteed to work in the compost stream. Here's what we offer, who it's for, and why it matters:
What We Carry
Our product line covers the two main use cases: keeping your home composting setup clean, and outfitting your business or event with serviceware that can go straight into the compost bin with the food.
For Home Composting
BioBags — from $8 These are the backbone of a clean home composting routine. BioBags are certified compostable bin liners made from natural materials — no plastic, no residue, no toxins. They break down completely along with your food scraps. We carry sizes to fit every bin we offer:
3-gallon (for countertop bins) — rolls of 25 or cases of 500
13-gallon (for 5 and 10-gallon bins) — rolls of 20 or cases of 280
23-gallon (for 30" tall slim-style cans) — rolls of 10 or cases of 120
44-gallon (for 32-gallon roller carts) — rolls of 10 or cases of 80
64-gallon (for 64-gallon roller carts) — rolls of 10 or cases of 60
96-gallon (for 96-gallon roller carts) — rolls of 10 or cases of 60
If you're a curbside compost subscriber, you can order bags through our shop and we'll deliver them with your next pickup — no extra trip required.
Countertop Bin + Roll of Bags — $20 A small countertop container that sits on your kitchen counter during meal prep. Toss scraps in as you cook, then carry the whole bag out to your curbside bin when it's full. The compostable bag keeps the countertop bin clean and makes the whole routine effortless. Replacement bags are $8 per roll.
Paper Lawn Bags — from $10 (5-pack) For yard waste that overflows your curbside bin. These bags compost right along with the contents — no emptying, no sorting, no plastic to deal with afterward. Stack them beside your bin on pickup day. Subscriber pricing available.
For Businesses and Events
Compostable Hot Cups — from $18.99 Available in 12, 16, and 20-ounce sizes. Lined with a plant-based coating instead of conventional plastic. These break down fully in the industrial composting process at Garden City Compost. If you're a café, coffee shop, or office running through cups daily, switching to these means every cup goes in the compost bin instead of the trash.
Compostable Cold Cups — from $19.99 12 and 16-ounce sizes for iced drinks, smoothies, water, and anything cold. Same BPI certification, same clean composting.
Compostable Lids — from $21.99 Hot and cold cup lids that match our cup sizes. Also BPI-certified — because a compostable cup with a plastic lid defeats the purpose.
Individual Compostable Cutlery — from $8.99 6-inch forks, knives, and spoons. Sturdy enough for a real meal — these aren't the flimsy utensils that snap when you try to cut a piece of chicken. Available individually by type so you can stock what your operation actually uses.
Compostable Cutlery Kits — from $44.99 Pre-wrapped sets of fork, knife, spoon, and napkin. Ideal for catering, events, and to-go orders where you want a grab-and-go option that's fully compostable.
Sugarcane Plates — from $17.99 Round plates in 6-inch and 10-inch sizes, made from bagasse (sugarcane fiber). These are rigid, cut-resistant, and hold up to hot, wet, and heavy food. They look and feel like quality disposable dinnerware — not like you're eating off a piece of cardboard.
Sugarcane Bowls — from $21.99 12-ounce bowls made from the same sugarcane fiber as the plates. Good for soups, salads, grain bowls, and sides.
Wrapped Straws — from $19.99 Available in green and clear. Individually wrapped for hygiene, fully compostable including the wrapper.
Wooden Stir Sticks — from $14.99 For coffee shops, offices, and catering setups. Simple, clean, compostable.
EcoGrip Hot Cup Sleeves — $66.50 If you're serving hot drinks without double-wall cups, these recycled-content sleeves protect hands and compost cleanly.
Need Something We Don't Stock?
Our shop covers the essentials, but if you need specialty items — clamshell to-go containers, portion cups, soup containers, deli containers, or bulk quantities for a large operation — we can special order through Eco-Products, a leading manufacturer of BPI-certified compostable foodservice packaging. Let us know what you need at info@missoulacompost.com and we'll get you a quote.
Why BPI Certification Matters
This is the part most people don't know, and it's the reason we're particular about what we sell and recommend.
"Compostable" is not a regulated term on product packaging the way "organic" is for food. Any manufacturer can slap "compostable" or "biodegradable" on a label without any independent verification. Some of those products will break down in an industrial facility. Many won't — they'll leave behind plastic fragments, contaminate the finished compost, or take years longer than the composting cycle allows.
BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certification is the independent standard that actually means something. A BPI-certified product has been tested and verified to fully break down in a commercial composting facility within the standard composting timeframe, leaving no toxic residue.
Garden City Compost, where all of Missoula Compost's collections are processed, is an industrial composting facility. BPI-certified products are specifically designed to work in this type of system. Products without BPI certification — even those labeled "biodegradable" or "plant-based" — may not break down properly and can contaminate the compost stream.
When in doubt, look for the BPI logo on the product. Or just buy from our shop — everything we carry has already been vetted.
For the full list of what's accepted and what's not in Missoula's compost stream, see our compost guide.
Who Buys Compostable Products from Us
Curbside compost subscribers — BioBags are the most popular product. They keep your bin clean, eliminate the "gross factor" of loose food scraps, and compost right along with the contents. If you're not yet signed up for weekly residential compost pickup, BioBags will become your best friend once you do.
Restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops — switching to compostable cups, lids, and cutlery means everything your customer touches can go in the compost bin. No sorting, no contamination, no asking customers to scrape food off a plastic plate into one bin and then find the trash for the plate. It simplifies your waste stream dramatically. Read our guide to commercial composting in Missoula to see how it all fits together.
Event organizers — compostable serviceware is the single most important decision you'll make for clean event composting. If everything your guests eat and drink off of is compostable, the whole plate goes in one bin — food and all. No sorting stations, no confused guests, no contaminated compost. Read our guide to event composting in Missoula for the full breakdown.
Offices and break rooms — compostable cups and cutlery in the break room mean your team can compost lunch scraps, coffee cups, and napkins without a second thought. Pair it with a 32-gallon office compost bin from our commercial service and your break room waste almost entirely diverts from the landfill.
Common Questions
"Are compostable products more expensive than regular disposables?" Slightly, yes — usually 10-20% more per unit than conventional plastic equivalents. But that gap is closing every year, and for many businesses the cost difference is offset by savings on waste hauling when you divert organics from the dumpster. For events, the added cost per guest is usually pennies.
"Can I use compostable bags in a regular trash can?" You can, but they won't break down in a landfill — they need the heat, oxygen, and microbial activity of an industrial composting facility. Compostable bags are designed for compost bins, not trash cans.
"Will BioBags hold up for a full week of food scraps?" Yes, as long as you're not overloading them with liquid. If you're composting a lot of wet material (watermelon rinds, soup, etc.), layer some torn cardboard or newspaper on top to absorb moisture. The bags are designed to handle normal household food waste for a full week in the bin.
"How do I know if a product I bought elsewhere is actually compostable?" Look for the BPI logo — it's a green circle with "BPI CERTIFIED COMPOSTABLE" around the edge. If you don't see it, the product may not break down properly in Missoula's composting system. When in doubt, check the BPI product database or email us a photo and we'll tell you.
"Can I order in bulk for my business?" Yes. Everything in our shop is available in case quantities. For large or recurring orders, or for products not listed in our shop, we can special order through Eco-Products and get you pricing on whatever you need.
Shop Compostable Products
Browse our full selection at the Missoula Compost shop — bags, plates, cups, cutlery, straws, and supplies. Everything is BPI-certified and guaranteed to break down cleanly at Garden City Compost. Order online, and if you're a curbside subscriber, we can deliver supplies with your next pickup.
Your compost stream is only as clean as the products you put in it. Start with the right ones.
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Missoula Compost Collection is a locally owned, family-operated company partnering with Garden City Compost and the City of Missoula to keep organic waste out of the landfill and return it to the soil. Need composting service? Start residential pickup at $19.21/month, explore commercial pickup for your business, or set up event composting for your next gathering.