Zero Waste Week — Day Six, A Mostly Invented Wheel

by Katy on April 20, 2013 · 44 comments

Zero Waste Feast

Today Day Six of the Zero Waste Week and although I normally take a break from blogging on Saturdays, today is a bonus day!

Why?

Because yesterday was all about stocking the kitchen back up on Zero Waste goodies. Unlike regular grocery shopping which can be accomplished at one or two locations, Zero Waste has proven to require multiple stops. But it’s not actually as bad as it sounds, as most everything is close to the house.

First off was Winco, which is a local no frills and inexpensive grocery chain. Sadly, it’s pretty far from the house, so I don’t end up shopping there much. This is a lost opportunity, as they are cheap, cheap cheap-ity cheap. 

Example?

The yogurt covered pretzels at New Season’s were on sale at $7.49 down from $7.99 per pound. At Winco the exact same product, (with identical code) was $1.88/pound not on sale.

So yeah, much cheaper.

My first step at the store was to bring my empty glass containers to the checkout to get the tare weight. The woman was very confused, but a nearby checker explained that Winco no longer allows you to bring your own glass containers for “health code reasons.” We had a conversation about how New Seasons, Fred Meyer and Safeway all allow this, but there was no budging on the matter. Luckily, I brought a large amount of my own endlessly washed Ziploc bags.

I kind of wondered whether the bags were verboten as well, but I decided to take a page from the military and “don’t ask, don’t tell.” For those of you who think I was being dishonest, I made no secret of filling my bags, and even had an employee helping me at one point, so there was ample opportunity for them to correct me.

From the bulk bins I bought yogurt covered pretzels, dried cranberries, flour, baking cocoa, quinoa, pinto beans, tortellini, ground ginger, cinnamon, Gardetto’s snack mix, chocolate chips, lentils and granola. Oddly, they didn’t have bulk tea, which was on my list.

I also bought a large amount of loose produce, which I either bought sans-bag, (What? Three limes don’t require their own bag?!!) or put in my reusable mesh produce bags.

One thing that I really like about shopping Winco, is that it’s an incredible mixture of citizens. Multiple nationalities and a wide range of income levels are all shopping together. It’s awesome!

Next stop was The Dollar Tree store, where I bought fifteen bars of paper wrapped soap for $5. Although I was okay with buying a single bar of unpackaged $5 shaving soap, I can simply not make the jump from 33¢ soap to $5 soap for showering. And since we always recycle the paper packaging, (and buy enough to last for six months) I am at peace with this purchase.

I then swung around to Hawthorne Boulevard, where I stopped at La Palapa for bulk chips and salsa, Grand Central Bakery for bread, Safeway for kale, (hello . . . on sale for 99¢ per bunch!) and finally New Season’s for glass bottled milk and the free range and hormone-free eggs that we always buy.

Whew . . .

This was an unusual day, as six grocery stops is completely insane. However, I feel like I’ve finally figured out the how and where to buy the Zero Waste equivalent of our groceries without taking out a second mortgage on our home.

Let’s just say we’re past inventing the wheel, and are now in the Beta testing phase.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }

Deb from Iowa April 20, 2013 at 8:45 am

I’m so jealous. We have one grocery store here and no bulk in our town. I have to drive an hour to get anything in bulk, and I’m sure that is not leaving a smaller carbon footprint. However, when we move, I have an exciting opportunity to explore new shopping places and a new way to live waste-free. Very jazzed about this.

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 12:14 pm

You could try buying from restaurants. I buy pepperoni from a pizza place, pickled ginger and wasabi from a Japanese place and now chips and salsa from a Mexican place!

Katy

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Deb from Iowa April 20, 2013 at 1:27 pm

Actually, we did buy chips and salsa from the Mexican place in our town last night. Win!

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 1:40 pm

¡A delicious Zero Waste sacrifice!

Katy

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bella April 20, 2013 at 8:48 am

I just went to Albertsons and used my new mesh produce bags and then of course used my own cloth bags. I got 5 cents back for every bag I used. I always use my own bags but I haven’t ever noticed they give you a discount for them until my husband pointed it out! BONUS! We did buy pre-packaged meat as we are having a BBQ for 50 people, I did check to make sure the containers were recyclable, but everything else was non-packaged stuff or packed in paper/cardboard. Your week and the other blogs have been such an eye opener. Thank you

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 12:13 pm

Winco gave me 6¢ for the tote bags, but nothing for the Ziplocs.

Katy

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Four dogs and one quilter April 20, 2013 at 9:25 am

I was also disappointed that Winco didn’t allow me to bring my own container to use when buying bulk foods, but I do reuse the bags. Will try bringing my own Zip bags next time.

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Heather April 20, 2013 at 9:42 am

SE PDX is certainly not convenient for winco, but my wallet always thanks me when I make the trek out there! I am definitely going to check out the bulk chips and salsa. I had no idea it was there. Thanks for the ideas!

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 12:12 pm

It’s really there, I just asked them if they would do it.

Katy

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Karen April 20, 2013 at 10:07 am

I’m exhausted just reading that. I’ve tried to buy produce at Winco several times, but it seems to go bad before we even get it into the house.

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cathy April 20, 2013 at 10:33 am

Has one had much success with grocery shopping for people with special diets (like food allergies) AND buying organic AND keeping it frugal AND trying to be low/zero waste?

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Rebecca April 20, 2013 at 1:16 pm

I do what I can, produce is the easiest to get waste free and organic, and is rarely a cross contamination issue. Bulk is tricky, esp for flours and stuff. Some bulk dispensers have a lever and product is dispensed using gravity, so no scoops to cause contamination. If your bulk store is small and friendly, try chatting with the manager of the bulk area, if I can be there when he is, he will fill my containers with clean scoops right from the big bags he fills the dispensing containers with, so the product hasn’t been out on the shelves yet. That significantly lessens the risk of contamination.

But you have to do what you need to. There are somethings that I could get bulk, but still buy in packages because the cost is just beyond what I can handle.

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Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares April 20, 2013 at 4:12 pm

Keep in mind, too, that pretty much all the bulk stuff arrives at the store in packages. For instance, we have asked at our local grocery that offers bulk if we could buy the whole 50-lb bag at a discount. We’ve done this with olives, beans, oatmeal, and nuts. They ALWAYS say yes. While you come home with a bag and therefore might feel like you weren’t zero waste, you’re still creating no more waste than if you bought it from the bulk bin at the store.

So, even if contamination isn’t an issue, you’ll save money by buying the big bag. You can split it with friends if it’s too much, or throw some of it in the freezer.

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carol April 21, 2013 at 4:52 pm

Food allergies are such a challenge! I can empathize, as I have just started trying to cut out gluten for a while for health reasons. I agree. Most products in this vein are heavily packaged. Do you have friends with chickens? I buy a dozen each week from a former colleague. I don’t know where you are located, but in my small western Washington town, I visit my local food coop for bulk and organic. They do have rice pasta in recyclable cardboard and sometimes in bulk. My local coop actually seems to have pretty good prices compared to the Seattle food coops. We try to go to the farmer’s market also, although for the most part, this is not cheap. Even Safeway has a small organic section, and I try to watch for their specials. I guess we spend a bit more than most folks, because we eat organic, but we consider it an investment. I know it’s a challenge, though, as I’m retired and have a limited income. One thing that has come with retirement is increasing the size of my veggie garden. Right now we still have the little, pre-retirement plot and even now are able to get most of our veggies from the garden. Would you be inclined to raise a little something at home?

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cathy April 20, 2013 at 10:34 am

Oops! I meant “Has anyone…”

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JaneUlness April 20, 2013 at 10:51 am

I’m at 1/2 the food stamp allotment for price and I deal with a diabetic , a baby and a vegetarian. ut, I don’t do organic unless it is the same price as regular or nearly the same and I am going to use it soon. And I am trying to be good at recycle and using my own bags at the grocery store, but we are far from packaging waste free!

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JaneUlness April 20, 2013 at 10:54 am

We go to WinCo about every six weeks. I heard a rumor we were getting one, but as for now, we have to drive. 2 towns away. I got a ten dollar off fifty dollars coupon. It meant that my purchases were about sixty percent off. It made the trip worth my while.

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 12:10 pm

I used that coupon as well.

Katy

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Amanda April 20, 2013 at 12:02 pm

Your hair looks great and your groceries delicious in this photo!

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 12:10 pm

I brushed it. It’s my secret tip 😉

Katy

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Linda in Indiana April 20, 2013 at 12:12 pm

Forgot there is a “bulk store” in the next county…but everything is pre-bagged in plastic bags or solid plastic containers. The next time I need to buy several items, I plan to load up my glass jars and drive there and see if she will let me use my own containers. It is in a different county, so maybe the county health rules are different.
This week I have found a few ways to avoid plastic wrap, etc. Success!
Also have used more of my homegrown items…less waste and sure a lot less miles of travel involved….from garden to freezer or canner and then to table.
Been glad to be made aware of the zero waste. I have a long way to go. But not gonna beat up on myself….just keep learning.

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amarie April 20, 2013 at 1:16 pm

Store policies regarding utilizing your own containers and bags are complicated. While some are just plain wacked, others come out of state regulations for food safety– again, some of these are wacked, but some have a great deal of legitimacy linked to cross-contaminations and strict procedures intent on combatting e- coli and other food/human borne illnesses. I , too, find this frustrating at times, but much less so after my 11 year old niece almost died from e-coli contracted through a food-preparation business last fall and was in the hospital for 11 days. She dropped 9 pounds in 36 hours off of her 80 pound frame when the e-coli was at its’ worst. The only other comment I would like to make is when an employee tells you they can’t do something because of “store policy,” please move on to the Manager. By cajoling employees into bending some of the rules, you could get them in trouble with managers and corporate and they could even lose their jobs. Grocery chains take their policies very seriously. Thanks.

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Rebecca April 20, 2013 at 1:19 pm

There is another consideration to “zero waste” if you have to go to 6 or more stores and have way more miles to travel to get the food your family needs. It also takes significantly more time and some planning above just hitting one store every week or two.

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amarie April 20, 2013 at 1:28 pm

Rebecca, I agree. Yes, by the end of the work week, I have just enough time to hang out with my husband, my teenage daughter, take the dog to the dog park on Saturday and Sunday for her 90 minute stick throwing adventure through the woods, stop by and see my parents, run errands, clean up the house, laundry, try and see friends, etc…. and, I work in fianace and contracts so running errands after work is usually out of the questions– I just wnat to be home with my family! Zero waste, multi grocery shoppping is priority #777…

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 1:41 pm

That’s why I batched the errands. The Mexican restaurant, bakery, Safeway and New Seasons were all on the same street.

Katy

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 1:43 pm

And I also stopped at two thrift shops near Winco, in the name of minimizing my driving. 😉

Katy

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Su Mama April 20, 2013 at 1:24 pm

I’m a Winco fan, tho I don’t go there often. Before Christmas, I was comparing prices on flax seed for making those long neck warmer thingies. New Seasons was something like $2.50 a pound. Winco was 89 cents a pound. Guess where I got enough to make a couple dozen as Christmas presents, and to sell? I agree about Winco’s added bonus of getting to mingle with all kinds of people. By the way, their bathroom is clean, too.

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tna April 20, 2013 at 1:29 pm

I’ve found that I can’t do zero waste without radically altering my quality of life. So I’ll just continue to do the best I can.

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JennH April 20, 2013 at 4:45 pm

Did you get the eggs un-packaged? Just curious if that is an option. We get ours from a farm & just keep using the same cartons but I would think if you are buying them in the store you would have to get a carton.

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 7:03 pm

No, the eggs come packaged, although I do recycle the container. Buying my eggs need to not become a complicated part of my life. I do spring for the cage free and hormone free variety though, so I feel good about the purchase.

Katy

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Anna April 20, 2013 at 6:40 pm

Jealous of two things:
1. Your bulk options
2. Your gorgeous hair!

Love the blog. 🙂

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AFS April 20, 2013 at 7:28 pm

This week I got a $10 off coupon in the mail from Winco. Not being familiar with Winco I visited their website for a location nearby. I typed in my zip code and the store locator said there are no stores within 50 miles of my zip. I wonder why they bothered to mail me a coupon.

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Katy April 20, 2013 at 7:44 pm

Dang, that’s a good coupon!

Katy

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Kathleen April 21, 2013 at 6:06 am

Mail the coupon to Katy 🙂

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Sanna April 21, 2013 at 1:19 am

What I find really strange (and actually bothering) is that nowadays vendours at farmer’s markets reach for a plastic bag faster than you can utter “thanks, I don’t need a bag” – EVEN if you place your bag/basket right in front of their nose. Sometimes I have to say that phrase up to three times, until they realize what I said. I remember that back in the 90’s they would still assume that you brought your own mesh-bag or basket or whatever and just pour the apples in there. And actually ask you, whether you brought a bag.
So actually what annoys me most these days is this extremely defensive mode when shopping (even in places like farmer’s markets!), I feel like I’m a madwoman running around and perpetually screaming “NO BAGS, THANK YOU! I BROUGHT MY OWN!”
I mean it’s possible, but it’s annoying nonetheless.

This week I didn’t have the time to step too much out of my comfort zone and try completely new shops etc. However, I had an eye on my purchases. I found that we are usually doing fairly well. Areas where we tend to fall prey are: meat (it’s possible at any butcher’s to get it just wrapped in paper and nothing else, but often I’m too lazy to go that extra step to a butcher’s instead of just the supermarket. However this is my main goal to reach from now on.), sweets (this is way harder, ’cause sweets in bulk are by far more expensive. Also, there’s just a small – luxury-type – selection) and dairy products (available in glass, just more expensive and yet another store). Which means, if I am just a bit more rigid with myself, I can very well reach even less waste. Most waste is just laziness. However, there will still be waste from some baking ingredients, spices etc, for which I don’t find a completely waste-free solution here. But less waste would be fine as well, I think.

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CHammons April 21, 2013 at 6:17 am

Palm smack to the face….The last time I purchased meat at the butcher counter (Kroger) in our town, I asked for my meat to be wrapped in paper. After the worker looked puzzled and I repeated it three times, he went in the back to wrap my purchase. He came out with the meat wrapped in butcher paper, placed on a meat tray and wrapped in saran wrap! Seriously?!?!?! Is our population to wacked that they can’t even comprehend using less non-recyclables?

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marie April 21, 2013 at 9:45 am

that’s like when you take your shopping bags in, and the clerk puts your liquid soap in a plastic bag before putting in your cloth bags.
Grrrr, drives me insane, If you ask them not to, they take it out of said plastic bag and throw the plastic bag away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

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Katy April 21, 2013 at 10:39 am

I hate that.

Katy

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Ann Y. April 21, 2013 at 11:13 am

Loved the “endlessly washed” Ziploc bags comment….do the same thing, I really wear them out. Get funny looks, don’t care ! Thank for sharing such good ideas on your site. Love your Goodwill posts…don’t often get to troll the GW except in the summer when school is out. Looking forward to it this summer as my last triumph was finding a Halls pottery Poppies bowl – just like my Mother had from the 1950s she used to make baked beans in, and my sister has hers… – on sale for 1.99 but then I got my over 55 discount because it was a Monday….SCORE ! Replacements is listing it for 60 bucks, but the sentiment is worth more. Thanks again for all the great posts !

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Katy April 21, 2013 at 11:35 am

Thanks for the kind words. You know I love vintage pottery myself!

katy

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Stonalino April 21, 2013 at 7:28 pm

I am so lucky to live near WinCo. I find that I can’t even handle one of the other chain stores around here (i.e. Fred Meyer or Safeway) due to the lack of diversity among shoppers.

It’s so much fun to ask people just how they are going to cook those chicken’s feet, and learn something new. I miss that vibe at the other stores. 🙂

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Paige April 22, 2013 at 11:19 am

I’M BUMMED!!! There are NO Winco’s in TEXAS!!! In my area I have an HEB, Market Basket, and Kroger. Does Kroger allow you to bring your own containers in? Sorry if someone has already asked that.

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Krystal April 24, 2013 at 9:30 am

Hey Katy!

My husband and I stopped at WinCo on Friday night as well. We don’t have one in Seattle, but there is one in the ‘burbs on the way to my MIL’s house, and we were headed there anyhow. They also refused our glass jars for dried goods (which is NOT against the King County health code), but we had some bags with us, so we were able to pick up a few things.

I noticed the quality isn’t great on some of their bulk items, but often have items that we can’t find zero waste anywhere else. Their dried fruit had added dies, but the had panko in bulk, for example. I think it’s definitely going to be an option for us for some items, but for some others, I don’t think the cheapness makes up for the quality. It’s a delicate balancing game in this family, that’s for sure!

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