Photo by Carbon Stories
Starting on April 22, 2022, we’re asking shoppers to bring their own bags when they shop at the market. We believe that by removing single use plastic and paper bags from checkout, we can improve our neighborhood and make the West Side a better place to live, work, and shop.
Reusable bags are both convenient and good for the environment – did you know you can fit more items in fewer bags when you use a sturdy, reusable bag? It’s true! Choose from a variety of reusable bags at Bridge Street Market able to hold up to 50 pounds of groceries per bag.
So, what do you do when you’ve mastered the task of remembering to bring your reusable bags from home to the market? We got you. Here are six ways to make your grocery trip greener – all with little to no cost to you!
(P)RECYCLING
It’s like recycling, but earlier. Precycling is considering the end destination of something before you buy it, and allowing that to influence your buying behaviors. When you’re shopping, pay attention to what containers your products are coming in. Here are some examples of common grocery list items that are ideal for precycling!
EGGS
Opt for eggs in a plastic or compostable container instead of a styrofoam container. Plastic is recyclable and a brown paper container is recyclable or compostable, while styrofoam has only one destination: the landfill.
NUT BUTTER
At Bridge Street Market, you can grind your own nut butter in recyclable containers from Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. Find the grinder in our produce department and select from four varieties, including almonds, cashews, and peanuts.
GROUND COFFEE
Just like our nut butter grinder, you can also get bulk coffee beans from Ferris Coffee at our new bulk bean and grinder in aisle one. Shop your favorite beans by the pound and have the option to grind them at the market, too!
KOMBUCHA
You can fill (and refill!) glass containers at our kombucha tap by Lively Up Kombucha. Find it in our produce department! Flavors rotate seasonally.
REACH FOR REUSABLE PRODUCE BAGS
You’re already bringing your own grocery bags – why not add produce bags to the mix? We encourage you to purchase reusable bags for produce, recycle the green plastic produce bags you use in our plastic recycling bins at our entrance, or stop using plastic produce bags altogether – many fruits and vegetables have natural protection in their inedible peels.
Lotus Produce Bags are beautiful, sustainable, and multi-purposeful. Not to mention machine-washable! These BPA-free bags have a drawstring closure and can hold up to 20 pounds of fresh produce. They’re available in our produce department in a 3-pack!
START A COUNTERTOP OR BACKYARD COMPOST
According to the Kent County Department of Public Works, food waste (scraps and wasted food) account for 35% of waste (by weight) in our landfills. And on top of that, another 30% is recyclable, too! By adjusting our habits and utilizing our resources, we could reroute over two-thirds of what goes into a landfill by either recycling or composting.
What we throw away in West Michigan Kent County Department of Public Works
What the trash we throw away is worth Kent County Department of Public Works
“Composting is the process in which food scraps (like orange peels, apple cores, coffee grounds, etc.) and other organic material (anything that comes from a plant such as leaves, stems, stalks, etc.), are broken down into a mix of decayed matter.” – Kent County Department of Public Works
Composting is something that you can start doing today (yes, really!) with the help of a countertop compost bin, backyard compost system, vermicompost bin (indoor/outdoor), or seeking out local resources like compost drop-off points or curbside pick-up programs.
For Kent County residents, this composting guide from the Kent County Department of Public Works is a great place to start!
REQUEST A FREE* CURBSIDE RECYCLING CART
In the city of Grand Rapids, we operate a single-stream recycling program through the city’s Public Works Department. Through this program, you can recycle loose and clean plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, and cartons. The best part? This program is completely free to all Grand Rapids residents with access to public streets. Carts are available in two sizes and can be delivered within two weeks to your home.
64 gallon cart is 41.5"H x 24"W x 24"D
96 gallon cart is 46"H x 26"W x 34.5"D
Get started and request your cart today!
TRASH TALK TIP
The recycling you put in your curbside cart should be loose and clean, so an indoor bag or recycling container is great for this. Simply fill it up in your kitchen, then bring it to your cart to dump before your pickup day. We love these Betterbin recycling bags from Public Thread. They’re made in Grand Rapids from upcycled billboard canvas material with purposeful design. Shop Public Thread x Betterbin recycling bags here!
*Free to Grand Rapids residents with public street access. If outside of the City of Grand Rapids, seek out recycling services with a private recycling collection service or ask Kent County Department of Public Works for assistance!
RECYCLE YOUR USED PLASTIC BAGS
When you’re done using a plastic bag, whether it’s a single-use bag or a reusable bag made from #1, #2, or #4 plastics, you can recycle it at the market! Look for our recycling bins at the entrance – to recycle a variety of plastic bags and flexible plastic films, including but not limited to:
grocery bags
case overwrap
produce wrap
newspaper sleeves
dry cleaning bags
ice bags
(deflated) packaging air pillows
bubble wrap
plastic padded shipping envelopes
LDPE/HDPE films
(clean) food storage bags
bread bags
Find more information about this program at how2recycle.info.
ONLY BUY WHAT YOU NEED
On your next trip, try just buying what you need for a few days at a time instead of buying for an entire week or more. Many cultures make it a habit to shop multiple times a week and we'd love to see you more often. When you shop for what you need, your produce will be fresher, your food will taste better, and you'll have less waste!
Photo by Carbon Stories