We hope that you enjoy the community, fresh air, and delicious produce available at your local farmers’ market. As you can see, many of these markets attract big crowds every week. With big crowds come big opportunities to make impactful eco-friendly choices. Our farmers’ markets are working towards being Zero Waste events.
What is “Zero Waste”, anyways?
Rather than “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, Zero Waste plans redirect us to focus on “Prevention, Prevention, Prevention”! While reusing and recycling is important, we can make our biggest impact by avoiding extra packaging and waste right at the point of purchase.
our farmers and food court vendors are committed
As NCGA members, we take pride in responsible stewardship of our natural resources. All NCGA farmers’ markets are a part of a Zero Waste campaign. NCGA members have set for themselves a set of Zero Waste standards. These standards were created by NCGA member committees and the board of directors.
Starting in April of 2019,compostable will be defined for the NCGA as items that can be composted with services available in Humboldt County. Currently, items labeled as “commercially compostable” will enter our landfill and do not qualify as compostable with NCGA’s standards. These standards allow NCGA to have the maximum amount of control over our waste stream and the environmental impact of our markets.
We encourage you to check out the changes we are making at market and give us your feedback.
Starting in April of 2019,compostable will be defined for the NCGA as items that can be composted with services available in Humboldt County. Currently, items labeled as “commercially compostable” will enter our landfill and do not qualify as compostable with NCGA’s standards. These standards allow NCGA to have the maximum amount of control over our waste stream and the environmental impact of our markets.
We encourage you to check out the changes we are making at market and give us your feedback.
internship availability!
Apply now to become a Zero Waste Lead to help us keep moving this program forward. Find out more here.
How You Can Become a Zero Waste Farmers’ Market Customer
Bring Your Own Tote Bag
There are great reasons for bringing your own tote bag beyond the obvious benefit of being able to carry all of your items home safely. Using a tote bag, backpack, or basket lets you limit the number of new plastic produce bags or paper bags that will someday have to enter the waste stream. Thrifty Tip: Consider sewing your own reusable grocery or produce bags out of recycled sheets or pieces of cloth.
Reuse Your Produce Bags
Many customers find that plastic produce bags can be washed and reused at least a few times before they tear. Wash your used produce bags along with the rest of your dishes and hang or drape them to try. Pro Tip: When using your reused bags at market, please be sure that your bag only touches the produce you will be buying so that the rest of the items stay sanitary for other customers.
Use Produce Bags that are Made for Reuse
There are reusable produce bag options out there made of various materials. Different bag materials and sizes are available for different types of produce storage. These are easily washed in the sink or even along with your regular laundry. They require an investment up front but will give you many years of feel-good reuse.
Look for Compostable Produce Bags or Paper Bags at Market
Did you know that some clear plastic-like produce bags are actually made from plant-based materials and can sometimes be composted? Some of our farmers have chosen to use these bags at their booths or offer paper bags that can be composted as well. If you like that these types of bags are offered, please be sure to thank your farmer for providing you with these options at their own cost. Pro Tip: Reuse your compostable produce bags as your compost bin liner, then toss the whole bag into your compost.
Bring a Mug
Do you like to pick up a hot or cold beverage while you shop? Bringing your own cup or mug will save a beverage cup from entering the landfill. While it may seem like a small item to toss, we find that the number of landfill-bound cups really add up each day at market. Fortunately, most of our vendors choose responsibly sourced cups that are made with recycled materials, but most of these commercially compostable plastic-alternative cups and lined hot beverage cups cannot be composted locally and will end up in the landfill. Pro Tip: Most vendors offer a discount when you bring your own mug. It doesn't hurt to ask!
Request Limited Packaging
Many farmers and vendors will automatically provide you with minimum packaging on your favorite items like produce, pastries, bread and hot food. If you can see that you may not absolutely need that extra plate, bag or container, let them know and they will be happy to accommodate you.
Use the Compost and Recycle Bins
Look for these bins at your local farmers’ markets and be sure that you sort your items according to the charts provided at each bin.
Save and Return Your Egg Cartons
Many vendors have uses for your used cartons. Ask you favorite farmers in advance if they welcome returned cartons, and if they welcome any used egg carton or just cartons that came from their farm.
At Home, Don't Let Your Farmers’ Market Scraps Go To Waste
Pro-Tip: Save your veggie scraps in a sealed bag or jar in your freezer. Once your bag or jar fills up you can use these scraps to make delicious broth! Or, feed your scraps to your chickens (or your neighbor’s chickens), or toss them in your backyard compost bin.
Become a Zero Waste Volunteer
We welcome you to join our team as a Zero Waste Volunteer. Activities may include at-market assistance with recycling and compost bins, conducting surveys with the community to be sure we are meeting everyone's needs, and developing more educational materials (like this one)! Click here to visit our volunteer info page and complete our volunteer application.
Need to Stock up on Reusables? Want to Chat about your Zero Waste Ideas?
The info booth has environmentally responsible canvas totes and recycled plastic tote bag options as well as mugs and reusable cotton produce bags.
The info booth has environmentally responsible canvas totes and recycled plastic tote bag options as well as mugs and reusable cotton produce bags.
the local worm guy
We are pleased to be contracting with The Local Worm Guy for our farmers market compost since 2018.
The Local Worm Guy worm farm is a family owned business based in the valley of Fieldbrook, CA amid towering redwood trees. LWG is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Lloyd and Stacey Barker. The Local Worm Guy provides commercial composting services, as well as year-round availability of composting worms for sale directly to the community. Compostable material is collected from our compostable material diversion partners, or delivered to the farm, where it is processed and fed to Red Wiggler composting worms. After a year on the farm, the material will be fully converted into Vermicompost, a nutrient rich and microbially diverse material that is ideal for building living soil and growing healthy, vigorous plants. Thanks to all of our compostable material diversion partners for our continued success: Humboldt State University, Six Rivers Brewery, the Northcoast Co-Op, Ramones Bakery and deli, Los Bagels, Lost Coast Roast cold roast coffee, and others!
The Local Worm Guy worm farm is a family owned business based in the valley of Fieldbrook, CA amid towering redwood trees. LWG is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Lloyd and Stacey Barker. The Local Worm Guy provides commercial composting services, as well as year-round availability of composting worms for sale directly to the community. Compostable material is collected from our compostable material diversion partners, or delivered to the farm, where it is processed and fed to Red Wiggler composting worms. After a year on the farm, the material will be fully converted into Vermicompost, a nutrient rich and microbially diverse material that is ideal for building living soil and growing healthy, vigorous plants. Thanks to all of our compostable material diversion partners for our continued success: Humboldt State University, Six Rivers Brewery, the Northcoast Co-Op, Ramones Bakery and deli, Los Bagels, Lost Coast Roast cold roast coffee, and others!
