Brain dump/reference list of zero-waste stuff in Fort Worth, Texas and/or useful to residents with a waste reduction mindset. Last updated January 27, 2024. Send tips to dave+zero@davegoesthedistance.com
Dining
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop allows you to get free refills if you bring back your clean collectors’ cup from a previous visit.
Groceries
Baked Goods
Panaderias Don Goyo is mostly self-serve. They used to use metal tongs but have since switched to plastic gloves. 🙁 They have metal trays for carrying your purchases to the register where a cashier will dutifully bag them for you in paper and plastic bags, but if you plan ahead and use your own container you can skip that.
Produce
Cowtown Farmers’ Market and Clearfork Farmers’ Market each host several nearby produce farmers that will happily allow you to use your own bag for your purchases.
The Container Store and Sprouts Farmers Markets sell reusable mesh produce bags.
Bulk Stuff
Whole Foods Markets have bulk goods and have in the past done weighing and tare marking on containers brought in for bulk goods. Sprouts Farmers Markets will do the same.
WinCo and Central Market have bulk goods but don’t do tare marking, so the best course here is to reuse a zipper bag to keep things simple for all involved.
Fiesta has bulk dry beans and chiles of various types.
Popup/local brand Crunchy Granola Girl sells granola by the scoop for bulk purchase and offers a discount for bringing your own container. Catch her at the Clearfork Farmer’s Market or Lola’s Community Market.
Beverages
Popup/local brand Squoze Juicery accepts returned bottles for sanitizing and reuse. They also provide their pulp to local farmers for their animals to feed on. Find them at various local markets as a popup or at 3rd St. Market, or subscribe for delivery and empty bottle pickup.
Kitchen Supplies
Wax wraps: Useful for food storage in place of waxed paper or plastic wrap. Trader Joe’s has stocked them (at least they did a few years ago). The Container Store also carries them.
Coffee brewing: Whole Foods Market sells a “coffee sock” for brewing cold brew coffee in a Mason jar.
Sandwich/Storage Bags:
- The Container Store carries name brand Stasher bags as well as similar durable and reusable sandwich bags.
- Whole Foods Market carries Stasher bags.
- Central Market has Stasher bags.
- Five Below has reusable sandwich bags.
- Target has reusable sandwich bags.
Reusable straws:
- I spotted some at Daiso at a reasonable price.
- I also saw that The Container Store carries some.
- Miniso at Hulen Mall has some that some in a pack with a cleaner and multiple sizes and styles.
- Whole Foods Market carries these.
- Michael’s carries some silicon reusable straws.
- Aldi had some metal and silicone straws once in their aisle of doom but y’all know how hit or miss that can be.
Silverware/Cutlery:
- Miniso at Hulen Mall has some reusable cutlery packs with a travel bag.
Dishwashing:
- The Container Store has Blueland dishwasher tablets.
The Container Store also carries reusable mesh produce bags.
Alcohol
Growler fills: Places that offer growler fills include:
- Dr. Jeckyll’s Beer Lab
- Kool Keg
- Whole Foods Market
Home/Lifestyle
Cleaning
Popup Rocky Gutter Homestead Soaps sells laundry spot bars and plans to start selling powdered laundry soap, the latter of which can be obtained with a discount if you trade in a wide mouth quart mason jar.
The Container Store has Blueland starter kits and refill packs of cleaner solution tablets, as well as laundry tablets.
Target carries several cleaning concentrates. They carry Grove which comes in glass jars that are recyclable. Their in-house Ever Spring concentrate comes in a tube/satchel.
Decor
Popup Stappato Candle Co. offers candles in repurposed wine bottles, and also provides wine bottle to candle holder conversion and candle refill services.
Popup/local brand Love Bug Luv sells candles and other skin and scent goods, and offers a discount when you return your used candle jar for them to wash, sanitize, and refill. They also provided a small reusable tote for my purchase which was kind and great.
Health
Bathing
Whole Foods Market has some soaps that are available for purchase packaging free, as does Central Market. Whole Foods also carries some brands of grooming and skin care products in reusable packaging.
Oso Fresh Soap uses minimal paper packaging for their soaps and sells at various local farmers’ markets.
Popup Rocky Gutter Homestead Soaps sells bar soap in recyclable paper packaging.
SOS Bliss does market pop ups and supplies some stores locally with bar soap that’s packaged minimally in a reusable cotton muslin bag and paper label.
Target carries shower gel sheets.
Moisturization
Popup Love Bug Luv sells body cream and other skin and scent goods, and offers a discount when you return your used jar for them to wash, sanitize, and refill. They also provided a small reusable tote for my purchase which was kind and great.
Dental Hygiene
tba…
Continuous Glucose Monitors
Not FW-specific, but Abbott FreeStyle Libre sensor kits can be returned via their pilot program to keep them out of landfills.
R.I.P.
For the Love of Zero was a great popup that carried a lot og zero-waste essentials, but has sadly discontinued operations.