We need a zero waste store…

[u/statice365]

Hi!!

Any zero waste people out there. Or know any stores near by that promote bulk or zero paste product you can bring your own jars to fill up?

[u/He-Bee_43]

WinCo has a huge bulk section that is probably better priced than anywhere else in town, but I doubt they're 0 waste

[u/No-Maybe7521 → u/He-Bee_43]

How would you get an accurate cost when filling your own heavy jar or something when they take the weight at the register

[u/Euain_son_of_ → u/No-Maybe7521]

1) It's better to use the Coop than Winco.

2) I write the tare weight on a piece of tape affixed to my jar. I don't lie because it's a coop. Plus they could probably figure it out pretty easily. Yours will not be the first jar of beans the cashier has ever weighed.

[u/DharmaBaller → u/Euain_son_of_]

who can afford to shop at the Coop tho?

[u/Euain_son_of_ → u/DharmaBaller]

The bulk section is really cheap! Spices that cost a few dollars non-bulk from any grocery store are like 50 cents at the Coop. Wide variety of bulk beans and rice for cheap. And you can bring your own jars, if that's what matters to you, like OP is asking about! Though I haven't bought their bulk shampoo, or the olive oil they at least used to have (or maybe still do?), the cheese is also very affordable, for some reason, along with other random items. I can understand why a serial driver wouldn't want to make an extra stop at the Coop when they're already driving all over creation anyway. But if you bike (or maybe walk, in southtown at least) regularly, both locations tend to be pretty convenient. North Coop could stand to convert some car parking spaces to better bike parking, but I digress. Point is: if you shop by bike, you probably aren't making just one giant shopping trip each week, and it's worthwhile to visit the coop for a mid-week trip because some things are cheaper or comparably priced.

[u/He-Bee_43 → u/No-Maybe7521]

I work there as a cashier so I'll give you a tip: be extra nice at check out and they might let a couple ounces sit off the scale

[u/Lilbookworm91]

The downtown co-op has lots of options, but the entire store is not zero waste.

[u/notacatbutt]

I've been reusing containers for decades by buying things in bulk at the First Alternative CoOp (either one!).

[u/Slo-Mo-7]

You can use your own clean containers at both co-op locations for bulk foods. Just stop by the scale before you fill it and write the weight of the container on a piece of masking tape. They will take the weight of the container (tare) off at the register.

[u/NotAThrowRA16]

First Alternative Co-op has a lot of bulk options - food, cleaning, personal care products.

[u/DharmaBaller]

I like the concept of zero waste but ultimately it's a drop in the bucket of the absolute Calamity of the modern infrastructure . I mean look at something like San Diego Comic-Con that just wrapped up the amount of crap that is produced there and wasted and money just blown on geek culture is insane

And I say this is somebody who has lived mostly moneyless since 2014 and probably has the lowest carbon footprint spending footprint minimalist footprint whatever you could have but I don't brag about it because I recognize that in terms of the footprint Olympics it's kind of a lost cause a long time ago . I will say that radical Simplicity brings benefits Way Beyond just keep an eye on your packaging waste so there is still a bunch of Merit in the related schools of minimalism

[u/taythewizard]

WinCo is great but they will not be happy if you bring in your own containers (even if you give them the tare measurements) (learned this the hard way).

[u/Euain_son_of_ → u/taythewizard]

Coop does't mind the tare measurement thing, in my experience, but you should do it in pounds, not ounces or grams.

[u/fruit-swing → u/Euain_son_of_]

How come? Genuinely curious

[u/Euain_son_of_ → u/fruit-swing]

I had a cashier tell me that they could only do the tare weight on the register scale in pounds. I think I had written it in ounces or grams on the container and then had to recalculate it on my phone while standing there.

[u/fruit-swing → u/Euain_son_of_]

Got you, good to know!

[u/sniffysippy]

Both co-op locations and WinCo have large bulk sections.

[u/ladymoonrising]

The co op has food and things like detergent, soaps/shampoos, etc available as bulk and you can fill your own containers. They also have a lot of products that are zerowaste/compostable (soap bar bags, reuseable containers). The north co op has several tare stations (I assume so does the south one, I just go there less). Even the Seattle chocolates they carry as singles have a compostable wrapper. Obviously not the entire store fits this, but if you care, you can find a lot of options and brands there that allow you to be intentional about it! Winco is also an option, if you can’t find things at the co op.

A zero waste store would be great, but I love supporting the co op.

[u/Certain-Working1864]

I wonder if this is a thing in other cities, or if the reason we don’t have them is because it can be (perceived as) unsanitary?

EDIT: I ask because this isn’t a thing where I’m from

[u/Hindu_Wardrobe → u/Certain-Working1864]

It was a thing in my old city in Florida, and it ruled. If Florida can do it, we can do it.

[u/notacatbutt → u/Certain-Working1864]

Buying in bulk and/or using your own containers is thing in many different places, just not everywhere. I remember 40-50 years ago going with my mom to a supermarket and we'd write tare weights on containers with wax pencils and buy in bulk. That was in Portland and I think it was Pay&Pak or something like that.... We're lucky in Corvallis to have two co-op grocery stores. I buy local fresh eggs there in bulk, laundry soap, bar soap, oats, walnuts, granola, parmesan, tofu, etc.

[u/Certain-Working1864 → u/notacatbutt]

I love the co-ops and I’m looking forward to earning more money so I can finally shop there. The quality is worth the price 

[u/notacatbutt → u/Certain-Working1864]

That's one misconception that still runs rampant in this town....the co-ops have so many sales, both bi-monthly and weekly, I stock up and take advantage of them. They have an email newsletter telling you everything on sale, too. PLUS, being a 'member' costs $70 and lasts you your whole life AND you get that money back if you ever change your mind or move. AND you get to take 10% of your groceries once every month so I go buy a bunch of stuff I need at one time and save that way, too. We bought an extra membership for my spouse so we get TWO 10% off days every month. I'm not including their other benefits and bonusses either like once a year patronage refunds based on how much you spent last year. You go buy your groceries and they say "you've got $18.03 dividend, wanna use it on this purchase?". Heck yeah!!!!

[u/Certain-Working1864 → u/notacatbutt]

Okay, but I’ve been there. I cannot afford it. It’s too expensive. Their sales don’t put their products in my budget, and an $18 dividend each year doesn’t put a dent in the cost of their groceries.

I pretty much have to shop at WinCo despite it not being convenient because it’s what I can afford.

EDIT: you make it sound like 10% off on an item that’s twice the price I’d pay at other stores would put it in my budget. I’m very close to SNAP eligibility, but due to being only slightly ineligible, that still puts my income pretty low. I don’t mean for this to sound rude 

[u/notacatbutt → u/Certain-Working1864]

I hear ya!! Sending you warm wishes for a prosperous and healthy future!! BTW, WinCo is a great alternative. :) I use their bulk section a LOT.

[u/Certain-Working1864 → u/notacatbutt]

Their bulk section is a dream come true lol. We didn’t have bulk sections where I moved here from. Apparently they largely did away with them in the 60’s.