Big Sky’s new community composting program opened Monday at the Meadow Village drop-off site with two separate collection bins. One bin is labeled “Food Scraps.” The other is labeled “Food Scraps (Pre-Sorted).”

Program coordinator Marlene Haskins said the dual-bin system emerged from community listening sessions last winter. “The pre-sort bin is for residents who have staff handling kitchen waste,” Haskins said. “The other bin is for residents who handle their own scraps. Both populations wanted to participate. They just participate differently.”

Longtime resident Dale Prather, who bought his condo in 1998 for what his nephew calls “a reasonable number,” dropped off a coffee can of vegetable trimmings at the standard bin. “I’ve been composting behind the garage since before the resort had a gondola,” Prather said. “Now I drive it here. Progress, I guess.”

At the pre-sort bin, a property manager who declined to give his name unloaded three five-gallon buckets from a Tesla Model X. “The owners are in Miami until December,” he said. “But the housekeeper keeps the scraps separated. They’re very committed to the program.”

The finished compost will be distributed at the community garden plots behind the fire station. Garden coordinator Tess Wolcott said plot assignments already reflect the divide. “We have two waitlists,” Wolcott said. “One for people who garden. One for people who have someone garden for them. The soil doesn’t care. But the paperwork does.”

The program runs through October. Bear-resistant lids are on order.