SUSTAINABILITY
Every week, San Angelo curbs are overloaded with discarded containers – pasta jars, soap dispensers, shampoo bottles – most of which will never be recycled. These curbside eyesores reflect a culture of overconsumption and waste, a growing issue to which West Texas is not immune.
Across the country, cities are getting creative with their approaches to sustainability solutions. One example stands out: the zero waste market.
What is a Zero Waste Market?
A zero-waste market is designed with approachability in mind, offering a practical way to reduce, reuse, and reconsider when it comes to restocking our pantries.
To the outsider, it may look like an ordinary grocery store, but there is a key difference; it’s all eco-friendly and community driven.
Simply bring your own container, weigh it, and refill it with what you need — or you can choose to refill one of the many donated containers for a small fee, and you can always donate your old containers for other shoppers to use.
Many zero-waste markets include local eco-friendly products such as candles, breads, flowers, and honey – perfect for a resourceful, spirited city like San Angelo.
It’s very easy, and once you try it, you’ll probably be hooked.
There’s a Lot to Like
One reason I enjoy these markets because they make me proud to be a part of positive change in the community – and because it often meets my needs more precisely than the big-box stores.
In Boise, Idaho, I stopped at Roots Zero Waste Market every Saturday morning for a farm-fresh bouquet of wildflowers and a vegan casserole, baked with care from kitchen scraps.
I would also refill and restock on everyday household items – fresh groceries, handsoap, and laundry detergent.
To restock on items like these, you’d sort through an eclectic assortment of reused — sanitized — containers, donated by the community.
The costs are determined by weight.
At one point I was using an old salsa jar as my dish soap dispenser! And, as funny as it looked, it was worth it to know that this small act might be a step in the right direction for our environment.
These markets aren’t about doing everything perfectly – they’re a reminder that a scrappy start is better than no start at all.
Why They Matter
The impact of zero-waste markets extends beyond the shopping cart, impacting the community as a whole.
Environmental Impact: reduces single-use plastics, encourages recycling, and keeps excess waste out of landfills (and streets)
Economic Impact: families can buy the exact amount they need, saving money and cutting out waste
Community Impact: supports local farmers, crafters, and bakers while building collaboration and connection
More than a trending ‘go green’ effort, these stores represent tangible progress toward a cleaner future. They have the potential to move us one step closer toward shrinking our environmental footprint.
Why in San Angelo?
San Angelo has the perfect blend of resourcefulness, creativity, and local-business spark that would make this a success.
Picture it fitting in with our Farmer’s Market – where locals already encourage sustainability and support of small businesses.
It’s practical, welcoming, and easy to understand – even for those who are brand new to the concept of sustainability. And, more importantly, it’s a reminder that even the smallest of steps matter.
The zero waste movement isn’t about doing everything perfectly – it’s about doing what we can, where we can, with what we have. And our whole community will be better for it.
