Well, hello, there! I’d like to keep you posted on my progress from my last Zero Waste post. I am slowly becoming a pro!
I’ve been shopping regularly at our bulk-items grocery store, The People’s Co-op. And as of a few minutes ago (literally, I just signed up online), we are officially members! I’ve been purchasing stuff like coffee, rice, spices, oatmeal, and any produce we need outside of our Imperfect Produce subscription. Here’s a little guide as to what to do when it comes to bulk shopping:
- BYO-Containers! We use ball jars and reuse old containers, i.e. we’re still using a big ol’ coffee can from Trader Joe’s. I also just purchased reusable produce bags. This comes in handy for fruits/veg (think more like loose, bulk spinach or mushrooms, or even loose pasta).
- Weigh your jar/container. There should be a scale in your store. Before gathering the goods, get the tare weight of the jar so you don’t pay for the poundage.
- Fill ‘er up. Make note of the SKU/PLU number of the item.
THAT’S. IT. Tell your cashier the tare and SKU number.
P.S. Did you know you pay a lot for packaging? This will save you some dough, fo’ sho’!
Some other things that we’ve purchased:
– Liquid dish and hand soap. I bought these glass pump bottles in amber and clear. They come in blue, too!
– Eggs. You can bring your old egg carton and fill it up with local, cage-free or free-range eggs.
– Milk. No, you don’t scoop milk out of a tub and funnel it in. Like in the olden days, get a gallon in a glass bottle and bring the bottle back for reuse.
Future purchases:
– Apple cider vinegar (or any vinegar/oil)
– Bar soap (Yes, in bulk. You just lob that thing right off.)
– Nut butter!
You might be thinking, I don’t live in Portland, lady. Where do I do this in Chicago?
https://www.zerowastechicago.org/groceryshop
I used to fancy the Dill Pickle Co-op back in the day, and Whole Foods certainly has a bulk section.
Here’s a challenge: What’s one thing you throw away almost every day, and how can you reduce your waste? (Maybe it’s coffee cups? Or soda cans!)
Happy Zero Wasting!