Gallatin County, Montana

Year Submitted: 2010

Process: Replacing toilets

Industry: Government

Wastes Reduced: Waste Water

Location: Bozeman MT

Contact: Brian Heaston

Phone: (406) 582-2282

Description:

Through a partnership with the city of Bozeman, area businesses, nonprofits and private citizens, the Toilet Tradeout program allowed people to trade in their old toilets for water-efficient models at a reduced cost. EPA WaterSense certified toilets were available for purchase for $149 at the swap, approximately half the original price. In addition, city residents then qualified for a rebate from the city of Bozeman which awarded $75 for every high-efficiency, pre-1996 toilet replaced. Area plumbers agreed to charge a flat fee of $150 to remove the old models and install the new toilets. The actual toilet swap ran for 43 days, in which residents could exchange the models at a local plumbing supplier. A donated dumpster was set up for disposal of the older models. Instead of going to the landfill, the toilets were then taken to a Belgrade gravel yard to be ground up for pavement. The City of Bozeman rebate program runs continuously.

P2 Application:

The program was very well received by the community. In the past year it has saved the city an estimated 3 - 3 ½ million gallons of water. The Toilet Tradeout was designed to kickstart the city rebate program and raise awareness of water conservation. Over a year after the event, the city still receives approximately one rebate application each week.

Details of Reductions

• 3,000,000.0 - Gallons/year of   Water Conservation
  

Additional Information :

Program Budget: $50,000 to fund the rebate program and advertise the event. Barriers encountered: A marginal number of citizens were concerned with the use of city utility dollars to fund a conservation program. The overwhelming response was positive, however. Suggestions: Only 2 models were available for purchase at the Toilet Tradeout. The City of Bozeman toilet rebate program features over 200 EPA-certified models for residents to choose from in order to provide a greater range of choices.