EcoToGo Boxes

Come check out the newest addition to our deli: reusable to go boxes and
16-oz pails!! Just purchase a box or pail for a one-time charge of $7, then use it again and again. Each time you bring the box back in, you’ll go home with a clean, sanitized box, so you can take home all the delicious food and none of the single-use waste guilt!

This sustainable carryout option can be used anywhere, anytime. It’s durable yet lightweight—perfect for your favorite to-go meal.

Bulk Department

We have complementary paper bags, and affordable options in glass and cloth as well - but you can bring your own from home and save even more. Our shoppers can use any container from their home or kitchen they’d like! Weigh your empty container to get the tare weight. You can do this by weighing your empty container on the scale in the bulk aisle, asking a Co-op cashier to weigh it for you, or weighing it at home before you come to the store! Write the tare weight on your container. That way your cashier will know how much to subtract at checkout, so you're not charged for the weight of your container. Learn more about our Bulk department here, or click here to read our Mobile Guide to Shopping in Bulk!

No More Disposable Straws!

In an effort to promote sustainability at our Coffee Bar, we no longer offer plastic straws. Instead, our drinks feature sippy-top lids, which use less plastic than a traditional lid and straw combination.

The Co-op offers a variety of affordable, durable straw options, or customers can bring in their reusable coffee cups anytime. For each reusable coffee cup, a 5-cent “token” is donated to one of three local non-profit organizations—a win-win for the environment and the local community! Find out more about our Change for Good program and current recipients HERE.

Co-op Compost Program

Over the last few years, the Co-op’s Sustainability Committee has focused its efforts on providing efficient food recycling options within the store and by providing new composting options. The Co-op has partnered with Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) to manage its composting needs. The Co-op community came together to raise enough money to buy two commercial composting machines to be housed at PCEI for Co-op and public use.

White 5-gallon buckets are placed in key areas around the store for the employees to use when they need to dispose of any food scraps. Behind the Deli counter and in the kitchen, the white buckets are placed at the end of each table, so Co-op employees are easily able to turn waste food into compost.

Recycling

The Co-op has been invested in making sure as many of our products as possible are able to be recycled. Recycling bins are located in the front of the store, the deli seating area and through the staff area of our building. The Co-op participates in Latah Sanitation’s curbside single stream service, with a dumpster-sized bin that is picked up weekly. Glass is taken by Co-op staff and community members directly to the Moscow Recycling Center.

With recent changes to single stream recycling, the Co-op is investigating alternative recycling options. Please stay tuned for more info.

Energy Efficiency

With our remodel in 2018, we had an opportunity to tackle some of the older and more inefficient devices in our store. We replaced and upgraded most of our retail refrigeration systems reducing electricity usage and reducing refrigerant leaks. We also replaced much of our fluorescent track lighting with LED strip lighting.

These efforts, combined with many small changes throughout the store have resulted in electricity usage dropping by nearly 5%.

Sustainable Silverware Project

The Moscow Food Co-op is committed to reducing our waste and eliminating unnecessary single-use plastics. This silverware project is part of our solution and response to recent recycling changes made on the Palouse.

Here’s how it works:

• When you need a utensil to go, borrow one! Take it, enjoy your meal, bring the utensil back, and we’ll reuse it.

• You’re also welcome to donate any unwanted silverware from home to the project! Bring in your unwanted metal silverware and leave it in one of our bus tubs in the Deli seating area.

• Our staff will wash and sanitize the utensils, then put them out for customers to use. It’s pretty simple, but we’re hoping we can make a big reduction in our plastic usage.

Plastic Reduction

With recent changes to the recycling program, the Co-op has been investigating areas the single use plastic can be replaced with more sustainable options. You will see new options for packaging on the salad bar, Bakehouse goods, and in many other areas of the store.

We continue to work to replace plastic wherever possible.