What's Available in Your Area?

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Here are some ways to get package free food and materials in Baton Rouge.  Some of these places apply not just to the Baton Rouge area, but to some surrounding areas as well.

If you would like to add to this post, or have a business that would like to cater to the zero waste market, email me!  I'd be happy to add more to the list!

But before we get started with the list, here are some things to keep in mind when shopping zero waste style:

• Weigh and label your jars. (Red Stick Spice and Whole Foods will weigh them for you.)
• Write or preferably take a cellphone picture of the PLU number for the cashier to use.
• Be polite and smile.  Zero waste is an unknown concept to most.  Don't give it a bad name!
• Remember to ask before using a container you would like weight taken off for.  Not all places have systems that can take off weight, in fact many grocery stores don't. What I do, is take small, practically weightless bags with me everywhere I go. 
• When trying to get things plastic free, instead of asking the employee first, try asking the manager first.  They have the attitude of "customer is always right" whereas the employee may just be on the line of thinking, "will I get in trouble?"

Whole Foods (On Jefferson):

First on the list because it's the obvious choice.  This place has the biggest bulk section around so I won't be able to name everything they sell package free.

Dry foods: An entire aisle of various dry goods.

Bathroom: Soap, Bath Salts

Meat: I once asked the deli guy if in the future he would be willing to put meat in my own container without using any plastics or packaging and he happily said yes.

Bread: You can grab bread from the case in the bakery and put it into your own bag.  Be sure to ask for a tag for whichever bread you want.  I keep my tags and reuse them, just make sure they're the same price every time.  There is also a bin containing rolls near the bakery in which you can grab and stick it into your own container.

Pastries: Many options

Candy: Many options

Mochi

Coffee: About eight different options with their prices ranging from 9.99 - 11.99.  They're pretty good, too.  They also have a coffee bar that I've brought my own coffee cup to (not even a travel cup, and actual mug) and filled it up myself.  It's about $1.99 per cup but I can say that it's actually some of the best coffee I've ever had black.

Cheese: I asked about their cheese and they seemed willing to put it into my own container, but it has to be during a time they are cutting cheese, which is in the morning generally, or when they run out of a packaged product.

Peanut Butter

Honey (Local Acadiana Honey)

A food bar: not sure if they will let you use your own container but I haven't had any problems using my own containers for weird things before. And if not, their containers are very compost friendly.

Farmers Market (Saturdays Downtown Baton Rouge and Denham Springs on Florida Blvd.)
(Smaller market on Tuesdays at the EBR Goodwood Library)

Fruits, Veggies, Peppers, Cooked Meat (wrapped in butcher's paper)
If someone is selling something you want in a container, ask if you can buy it and give the container back next time you come.  Most of the time they will say yes.

Lush (Mall of Louisiana): 

Shampoo Bars, Conditioner Bars, Soap, Facial Soap, Bath Bombs

Cute reusable tins to take your soap home for only $6 extra!

You can bring back any packaging and you will get benefits, but I don't know if they reuse them.

Red Stick Spice Company (On Jefferson):  

Only the one on Jefferson has spice in bulk. They take 10% off for bringing in your own container.

Just about every spice you can think of.
Many different types of loose tea.
Many different types of oil.
Locally made jams in jars.

Fresh Market (Perkins Rowe)

Fresh Market was very polite when I asked if I could get meat and cheese without packaging, and even when I brought in my own jar, they weighed it for me.  I would be cautious when they weight it though, because when I tried to buy a small bit of candy, they overcharged me.

Coffee: Very nice selection of bulk coffee and they even encourage mixing the beans for interesting flavors.
Cheese: If asked they will cut it and put it into your own container
Meat: If asked they will cut it and put into your own container
Candy
Nuts

Tin Roof Beer:

If you're looking for waste free beer, here is your answer. Tin Roof does something that a lot of places in other states do called Growlers and Howlers. A Growler is a 64oz glass jug and a Howler is a 32oz jug that you can buy for 5 dollars a piece. You can get them filled anywhere that claims to have a lot of craft beer. I know specifically Chimes will fill them. Tin Roof charges $15-$20 to fill the Growlers and $10 - $15 to fill the howlers. And the price depends on the alcohol content of the beer. If you have any questions for them, email them; they're super helpful and friendly. Here is a very cool deal  they seem to always have on Groupon: https://www.groupon.com/deals/tin-roof-brewing-company

Plato's Closet (off Airline Highway)

This place is amazing.  They buy and sell gently used clothing and are always having amazing sales which, if you sign up, they will notify you through text. If you bring your own bag you get a discount, and they recently stopped doing the stamp system and switched to an online system. Less waste!

Rouses Market (off Drusilla Lane, Baton Rouge)

Cheese: I emailed the store manager if it's ok for them to cut cheese and place it into my own container and they happily said yes, but this type of service is not normally requested so don't be surprised if you get some confusion.

Great selection of Nuts and Candy
Selection of Granola
Check around, there is more than one bulk candy section
Dr. Bronner's Bar Soap in paper

Candy Craze (Mall of Louisiana)

Various types of candy, although don't expect them to take off the weight of your bag.

Our Daily Bread (off of Florida)

A health food store/bakery/cafe that carries many compostable packaged items and a small bulk dry goods section.  The one in Downtown does not have this option.  For those vegans out there, they often serve vegan food!

Lolli and Pops (Mall of Louisiana)

Smaller selection of bulk candy than Candy Craze but a better selection.  They also carry foreign candy, alcoholic chocolate, homemade truffles.
They will NOT accept your containers, but they do have a system where you can buy one of their cute glass jars and fill it for $12.50. You can pay an extra 5 dollars for a refill fee the first time you buy it, and from then on you can fill your jar up for $12.50, which can save you quite a bit if you happen to get the expensive bulk candy.

D'Agostino Pasta Company

Pasta: I met up with the guy who runs this place at the farmer's market downtown and asked him if their store would be willing to sell me pasta and not package it if I came by.  He said yes, but his employees may not understand and I may have to tell them to call him to set it straight.  "Sure," I said. "Thanks."

Neighborhood Pet Market (Perkins)

Cat toys and dog treats in loose bins

Petco (Perkins)

Clay cat litter bin.  Buy the bucket of cat litter, and come in to refill from the bin for a discount price.

Dog Treats

Matherne's (Downtown Baton Rouge)

Candy and mixed nuts
Peanut butter (you may have to buy the container once and then bring it in over and over)

CACRC

This place takes in broken electronics, fixes them, and sells them for a lot cheaper.  Drop off your old broken electronics or buy a used laptop from them for very cheap.  They are always posting about their sales so follow them on social media.

Recycle Quick (7067 Scenic Hwy, Baton Rouge)

They buy scrap aluminum, copper, and brass

Drop Off Recycling (Tom Drive, Baton Rouge)

For apartment dwellers, when you turn onto Tom Drive you will see a parking lot with a couple of large dumpster style recycling bins.  Just dump your recycling in and you're good to go.  If you need help, you can walk into the building and request help Monday through Friday.

Pick up Recycling

Recycling is free in Baton Rouge!  Just call 311 and ask to have a recycling cart sent to your home.  They will send it in 5 days and you just have to figure out what your collection schedule is.

Pull-A-Part (Greenwell Springs)

Basically a junkyard that you can go into for a small, flat fee and take apart cars for parts.  I went here for a radio antenna once.




This post has been updated to take out the WinnDixie on Siegen Lane.  They no longer have their bulk section of dry goods. 


If anything on this blog needs to be updated, changed, corrected, or added to this list, just email me and I'll be happy to make the changes.