Sustainability

Sustainable Solutions

In keeping with our Mission — to inspire people to conserve wildlife and wild places — the Milwaukee County Zoo is “walking the talk,” putting sustainability front and center in our daily operations.

Protecting animal biodiversity is dependent on preserving a healthy environment in which animals can thrive. In order to contribute to worldwide animal management and conservation efforts, the Zoo is constantly adjusting its practices and updating its facilities in order to be more efficient and environmentally-friendly. Read on to discover some of the steps we have taken so far toward creating a healthier planet.

The Zoo has reduced its energy consumption each year since 2016. Steps we’ve taken toward making that goal a reality include energy-efficient lighting, in which our current lights use 80% less electricity and last six times longer than the previous lights, and installing eight solar panels that generate over 16 MWh annually.

To see real-time data for the Zoo’s energy tracker, check out the Solar Energy Output display in Nourish 414.
Our motto is “what’s old is new!” The Zoo reuses countless items throughout its grounds each year. Hammocks for the bears, orangutans, and others are weaved from old fire hoses from the Wauwatosa Fire Department. Employee clothing that has reached the end of its life is reused as towels and rags for the maintenance, custodial, and grounds departments.

Each autumn since 2012, the Zoo collects, shreds, and turns fallen leaves into mulch for the spring. The Zoo also reuses downed wood from our forest trees, known as the Urban Wood program. Urban Wood has been used on projects throughout the Zoo, including the train trestle and cars, nature play area, stroller booth, Aviary, and the Jaguar habitat.
Handheld electronics collection
Along with EcoCell, we accept and recycle handheld electronic devices at the Zoo. This allows the rare earth minerals in the devices to be reused, and reduces the need to mine in gorilla habitats. This also raises funds for gorilla conservation projects! Bring your mobile phones, tablets and e-readers, smart watches, earbuds, digital cameras, and digital music players to the Zoo for recycling — they can be left with staff at the Admission gates or dropped in the collection bin in the Zoo main entrance.

Holiday lights collection
We accept holiday lights for recycling annually in December as part of our Wild Lights special event. Members of the public are welcome to drop off light strands at the Zoo until the January Family Free Day. Recycling lights keeps them out of landfills and allows materials to be reused — less space for landfills means more space for wildlife!

Recycling on Zoo grounds
The Zoo employs numerous recycling efforts throughout the grounds, in both our public and staff operations. Zoo guests can participate by depositing their Zoo Maps in collection bins at the exit and by recycling bottles and aluminum cans in Pepsi recycling bins throughout Zoo grounds.
Green is the New Gold. The Zoo makes an effort to include native plants around its park-like grounds to reduce stormwater runoff and create ample beautiful green spaces for both animals and visitors. Rain gardens throughout the grounds catch runoff and work in conjunction with permeable pavers to replenish groundwater supplies rather than wasting it into storm drains. These efforts help prevent flooding, soil erosion and pollution.

Off the ground, atop our Karen Peck Katz Conservation Education Center lies a green roof. Plants on a green roof absorb rainwater, provide habitat for wildlife and naturally cool and insulate the building below them. On top of all of this, green roofs can increase the life of a conventional roof by 20 years, reducing waste on that front as well.
The Zoo not only sources food locally, but we grow our own too. We utilize our green spaces to grow herbs and spices for many in-house dining locations. But our biggest achievements are our Animal Enrichment Gardens.

These Animal Enrichment Gardens, located by the Apes, Hippo, and Small Mammals, grow fresh produce for our animals on site. Enrichment is about enhancing as many aspects of our animals’ lives as possible, including giving them opportunities to interact with nutritious and stimulating foods that keep their minds active and healthy. We grow many different types of plants for our animals to shred and interact with, rub in the scented plants, and experience the different textures, smells, and tastes of various fruits, vegetables, herbs, grasses, and flowers.
The Zoo’s Concessions and Merchandising partner, SSA Group, is focusing on the reduction of plastic waste and responsible purchasing by:
- Eliminating single-use plastic bags in our Gift Shop
- Replacing single-use plastic straws with paper straws in our concession stands
- Working with toy manufacturers at a national level to eliminate plastic packaging from toys wherever possible
- Offering unique items made from repurposed and upcycled materials in Zoo gift shops and kiosks
- Switching our most popular plush animals to be filled with PET plastics, made from recycled bottles
- Installing bulk oil filtration systems at some cafés to reduce the number of plastic jugs put in landfills
- Eliminating all Styrofoam products and bleached napkins in concession stands and dining areas
- Using plant-based, biodegradable products for all beer cups, coffee cups, bowls and plates
- Reducing sales of products containing palm oil, as the harvesting of palm oil leads to deforestation and destruction of wildlife habitats
With these initiatives, the Zoo will save the following from landfills and habitats each year:
- Over 60,000 plastic bags
- Over 80,000 plastic straws
- Over 1,000 plastic jugs
- Over 7,000 pieces of plastic packaging from toys in Gift Shop
- Over 400,000 aluminum beverage cans
- Over 500,000 plastic beverage bottles

Sustainability

Sustainable Solutions

Travel Green Wisconsin

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Green Space

Composting

Local Food

Concessions and Merchandise