Reducing Plastic Waste at the Bulk Bins

In theory, using the bulk bins can reduce plastic waste.  The item itself doesn’t come wrapped in plastic, but the way you use it just might.  If you go to the bulk aisle and use one of the disposable plastic bags to fill up with your items, then go home and use it and throw the bag away, then you haven’t saved any packaging at all.  That’s how I used to do it.  Then I started thinking about all that plastic in my garbage can and figuring out how to reduce it.

You can buy mesh bags designed for filling up at the bulk bins.  These work for anything that is not fine like flour or sugar.  Even oatmeal may lose some of the finer bits.  But for nuts, dried fruits, beans, couscous or anything that is not fine, the mesh bags work great. They are called “reusable mesh produce bags”.  One of these sets of mesh bags on Amazon has over 2,000 reviews!    So people are using them.  They are also good for smaller produce like mushrooms, tomatillos, or brussels sprouts.  I like the smallest size the best.

Use your phone to record the number for each item that you got.  I use a note in “Notes” and keep it open until I get to the register.  When the cashier weighs the bag you tell them the number so they can charge you.

Then what to do with the stuff when you get home?  You can’t really leave most food in there, open to the air as it is.

Here are a few options to reduce the packaging:

1. Use a mesh bag to load up your item, then transfer at home to a jar or container or ziploc bag.
2. Designate a ziploc bag for the item and bring it with you to the store.  When it’s empty, reuse it for the same thing next time.
3. Save the packaging from the item you used to buy, then refill it with your bulk items in the mesh bag.  This worked for me with chocolate chips.
4. Use a ziploc bag at the bulk aisle that you reuse each time.  I plan to do that with the spice bag to get more spices next time.  That entire container of coriander cost me 64 cents!  Since it’s dry, I just shake out the remaining spices from the bag before reusing next time.
5. Bring an empty jar, and ask the cashier to weigh the empty jar and write down the weight.  Then when you pay, they will subtract the weight of the jar.

If you are using ziploc bags, wash and dry them and reuse them.  I’ve heard that using heavier weight freezer bags makes them easier to wash and reuse.  Here is my method: add a drop of dishwasher soap and some warm water to the bag, then swish around inside.  Rinse well then prop it up on a set of tongs in your dish rack.  They actually got dry that way!

I now keep a bag of mesh bags and my spice bag in my car at all times.  I bring it with me into the store each time.

Another thing to watch out for – some of the tea in the bulk bins is incredibly expensive!  I managed to buy some tea that was $51.84/pound.  My small bag of tea cost me $7.78.

What about those produce items?  How do you store them at home?   I’ll get back to you on that.