By Katlynn Mullins
I saw the infamous sea turtle video a few years ago — the one with a human trying to pull the straw out of the turtle’s nose.
I knew veganism was lessening my carbon footprint, but I also knew I could do more.
I bought metal straws and thought I was Superman reincarnated. Yet I cared more about that sea turtle than myself or Lois Lane. I swore I was making a difference.
I wasn’t. I found out living a “zero-waste” lifestyle is a lot more than metal straws and refillable water bottles. It’s also a lot harder.
For one, it can be expensive. That makes it feel daunting, but once you set aside the perfectionism, it’s not that bad.
“Zero-waste” is not only collecting a mason jar’s worth of trash in five years. It’s an effort to reduce the amount of trash being sent to a landfill — meaning recyclables and compost aren’t technically waste.
It doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to be fancy. These four stores have proven that, but they’re by no means foolproof.
Katlynn Mullins | The Crow’s Nest
Trader Joe’s
2742 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg
You don’t have to stock up on new mason jars that come wrapped in plastic. Start with buying more things in glass containers.
Salsa, pasta sauce and kombucha are where I started. Trader Joe’s marinara is $1.99, and it sells GT’s Kombucha, which comes in a glass container.
Those containers can be used to store food items or replace a refillable water bottle.
Trader Joe’s produce is affordable and high-quality, but most of it comes with a sticker or is wrapped in plastic like everything else. However, if I can’t find things I need in bulk, like pasta, rice or coffee, I’ll buy it here.
The company’s produce bags are compostable, meaning that if they’re placed in the right conditions — like a compost bin — the plastic breaks down faster. (Not to be mistaken with biodegradable, which can break down anywhere.)
Katlynn Mullins | The Crow’s Nest
City Produce
2701 Fourth St. N
This place is right across the street from Trader Joe’s, has package-free produce and is open seven days a week.
I was skeptical but instantly changed my mind after my visit. The produce is really cheap — I’m talking a bunch of broccoli, two bell peppers, one red onion, five apples and seven bananas for $10.78 — while still being beautiful.
Keep in mind that it wasn’t completely waste-free. There was a rubber band around the broccoli, and stickers on a few of the fruits and vegetables, but that’s better than everything being in bags.
Speaking of bags, bring your own instead of opting for the plastic ones.
Emily Wunderlich | The Crow’s Nest
Saturday Morning Market
101 First Ave. SE
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The market isn’t as accessible to working students, but it’s walking distance from campus. I prefer the produce I find here to City Produce’s. It’s similarly priced, but there are more options.
I still have a lot of exploring to do, but there’s a bakery every weekend (with bread you can wrap up yourself), and items can’t be sold in plastic bags. A lot of vendors keep paper ones on hand, but bringing your own reusable ones is safer. Your produce is less likely to spill out of the bottom.
Also, you can grab a cute house plant or buy local art.
Courtesy of The Refillery
The Refillery
7490 30th Ave. N, Suite B
Hours vary day-to-day, listed online
After you’ve saved up a few pasta jars, head to The Refillery. It’s about 20 minutes from campus.
It makes cleaning supplies and self-care items. I’ve gotten a jar full of lavender-scented laundry detergent and all-purpose cleaning spray for less than $10. It even offers essential oils and has a bar to create DIY beauty supplies, like body scrub, rose water, bath salts and more.
The store also sells reusable containers for a few dollars each.
It’s hard to be perfect
In the five years since I’ve seen the turtle video, I’ve become more mindful, but I haven’t figured out food waste.
I ask for paper bags to put my garbage in when I go to Trader Joe’s, but I don’t have a compost system. The city will distribute bins, but me and all of my friends live in apartments and don’t have gardens.
I keep my recyclables in a bin and drive it to my parent’s house whenever I visit, but not everybody lives an hour away from home.
With Lucky’s Market announcing its closing and no Sprouts Farmers Market within a 10-mile radius, I’ve been searching for an easily accessible, decently priced bulk food store but keep coming up short.
Rollin’ Oats, 2842 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St. N., offers bulk coffee but prefers that you don’t bring in jars (though the coffee bags can be recycled). It’s incredibly expensive though — I’m talking almost $5 per pound of rice. The store does have compostable bags, though.
It’s hard to achieve perfection, but making an effort is better than nothing. And, yes, tossing your plastic soda bottle in the recycle bin is a start.
