About Us

Woods Not Waste was born out of frustration and love—frustration at seeing our favorite wild places treated like dumps, and love for the forests that have given us peace, adventure, and purpose.

It all started in the woods outside Missoula, Montana. A handful of us—just regular people with a pickup truck, a few garbage bags, and a deep respect for the land—decided to stop waiting for someone else to fix the problem. We grabbed gloves, hit the trails, and started hauling out trash. What began as a weekend habit grew into something bigger: a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to keeping our forests clean and helping people who don’t have the means to dispose of their trash legally.

Since then, we’ve removed over 17 tons of trash from public lands. We’ve helped hundreds of low-income families get rid of waste safely and legally—because no one should have to choose between feeding their kids and paying landfill fees. We’ve partnered with the U.S. Forest Service, local governments, businesses, and volunteers to tackle illegal dumping head-on and create long-term solutions that actually work.

We also believe in bringing a little magic to the mission. That’s why you’ll often see our trash-hauling mascot, Trashsquatch—a big-hearted, forest-loving Sasquatch who reminds people that cleaning up can be fun, community-driven, and even a little mythical. Because let’s face it—solving environmental issues doesn’t have to be boring.

For the first few years, we ran this out of pocket. No grants. No staff. Just passion, determination, and a whole lot of caffeine. And somehow, three of us managed to do what entire departments haven’t—because we care, and we don’t give up.

But now, we’re at a crossroads. We’ve proven what’s possible with almost nothing. Imagine what we could do with real support. That’s why we’re giving this nonprofit one final, focused push—to build a full team, expand our programs, and rally our community like never before.

This is your call to action.

If you believe in clean forests, environmental justice, and helping people who’ve fallen through the cracks, then you’re one of us. Join the mission. Support the cause. Let’s build something beautiful, together.

We’re Woods Not Waste—cleaning the wild, one bag at a time.