by Melissa Elkins, Sustainability Coordinator
April 2021
In honor of Earth Day, we are sharing recycling tips from your co-op.
It's important to us to share the best way for you to responsibly dispose of the items you purchase at our stores, so you can reduce the waste stream at your home.
Learn more about Sanitary Service Company's curbside recycling and FoodPlus! collection.
Learn more about sustainability at the Co-op.
The Community Food Co-op is an industry leader when it comes to waste diversion. We recycle, compost, donate, or reuse over 90 percent of what the grocery industry considers waste, which qualifies us a Zero Waste business. We even started recycling old membership cards and gift cards when you turn them in!
We recycle, compost, donate, or reuse over 90 percent of what the grocery industry considers waste
We are also committed to helping you reduce, reuse, and recycle at home. To that end, we strive to offer our housemade bakery and deli items in packaging that is either recyclable or commercially compostable.
Below is a quick guide on how best to dispose of the goodies you bring home from the Co-op.
Plus a few recycling opportunities in our stores for household materials that aren’t collected curbside.
Fun fact: In response to a shopper’s suggestion, we recently started collecting manual toothbrushes and empty toothpaste tubes for recycling. That’s just part of The Co-op Difference!
We love how our Co-op community pushes us to continue improving the services we provide.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Co-op items recyclable in your blue curbside recycling bin:*
Co-op items recyclable in blue curbside recycling bin:*
- All two-piece plastic deli and bakery containers, rinsed
- Clamshell containers, rinsed and lids separated from base
- Plastic sample cups
- Plastic cold beverage cups (in September 2019 the Co-op started offering plastic cups only by request)
- Glass jars and lids
- Take-and-Bake entrée packaging
*Similar items from other businesses may not be recyclable or compostable.
Co-op items compostable in your curbside FoodPlus! toter:*
- All Co+op branded paper-based packaging,including shopping bags
- Coffee bags (marked compostable, with tie removed)
- Coffee and soup cup lids
- Straws
- To-go utensils
- Freezer paper (for items ordered from the meat case)
- Gift card sleeves
*Similar items from other businesses may not be recyclable or compostable.
Co-op items destined for the landfill:
- Foam trays from the meat department
- To-go coffee box (the outer box can be recycled with cardboard, but the foil packet inside must go to the landfill)
- Various foil and plastic film wrapping (mostly used for grab-and-go sandwiches)
