Composting & Recycling

As stewards of this planet, we owe the Earth and future generations mindful consumption and careful usage of our resources. While a low-waste lifestyle is always a work in progress, and we do our best to limit food waste and reduce consumption of plastics, we aren’t perfect. This is where composting and clever recycling programs come into play, both of which are available at the co-op!

composting 101

One third of our trash is organic material that could be composted! Also known as organics recycling, composting is the best opportunity to reduce our trash and give it second life. Some of the benefits of composting include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil, protecting water, supporting the local economy, and diverting trash from landfills. In the city of Minneapolis, organics recycling pickup is available to all residents with city-coordinated garbage and recycling services. You must sign up to participate! If you prefer, our Wedge Lyndale location has partnered with LHENA (Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association) to offer compost collection for the community along the side of the building on our South entrance. Sign up here. Learn more about organics recycling for all of Hennepin county, including what can be composted and how to get started here.

terra cycle

Both of our Wedge Community Co-ops work with TerraCycle to recycle the unrecyclable. TerraCycle is a brilliant organization helping consumers and businesses find recycling solutions for waste streams that are not typically locally recyclable. Our stores participate in the Tom’s of Maine program, a service free for all co-op shoppers, which recycles personal care packaging like mouthwash bottles and caps, toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes, and deodorant containers and caps. TerraCycle uses these materials to recycle into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products.

plastic bag recycling

Wedge Community Co-ops partners with Merrick, Inc. to recycle plastic. Merrick’s Plastic Recycling program provides meaningful work for 28 clients while diverting nearly 1 million pounds of plastic from incinerators and landfills every year. Accepted plastics include bread bags, cereal and pasta bags, garbage bags and liners, grocery and retail plastic bags, newspaper sleeves, produce bags and more. Utilize this free service in our stores!