Don’t enjoy throwing out food? We do not either!
Here are some tips on how you can reduce your food waste.
1.) Prevention
Be realistic about your vegetable consumption goals. If you struggle to finish a bag of carrots, is there an option to buy just two or three carrots at your grocery store? Also, consider reorganizing your fridge. Sometimes people forget they have items because they're not visible. If needed, rearrange everything so that more items are in plain sight.
2.) Feed others
If you have items that are about to go bad but could still be consumed, consider donating them to a local non-profit, church who serves daily meals, or post on your local give it away free site. This is a great way to give back to the community and reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill.
3.) Compost
Composting at home is a great option for people who own their home, have the space and time to do it. Vermicomposting (composting with worms) is a great option for people without a yard. Bring your food scraps to Bulk Refillery as part of the FOOD ISN’T TRASH drop-off site.
We were originally part of the Community Food Scrap Drop-off Program funded by the USDA/NIFA Grant awarded to the Association of Oklahoma Governments (ACOG). Fertile Ground Cooperative was the sub-awardee of this grant. It was a two-year pilot program that was free to the residents of Central Oklahoma during the grant period, which ended in May 2026. But the program continues! For only $10/month you can still participate at BULK REFILLERY. (some free locations remain, see the bottom of this post)
https://www.fertilegroundok.coop/community-food-scrap-drop-off-program
How to drop food scraps at Bulk Refillery:
1. Sign up by visiting a drop-off site and scanning the QR code, or by signing up at the link above. Once you've signed up, and entered your email you will receive the BIN CODE. Open the bin by pressing the button on the side and pulling the cord at the same time. Place food waste into a brown paper bag, or Bio Bag. Once you’ve received the code you can drop your scraps off anytime, day or night! Place them in one of our bins located behind the building. Please make sure you close and LOCK the bin by changing the code.
Location:
239 S. Coltrane Rd Edmond, OK 73034
- Your food waste is converted into finished compost. You can also pick up composting at Fertile Ground Cooperative, 2228 S. Santa Fe Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73109 or call them 405-633-0264
Compostable items we do accept: ● Fruit and vegetable scraps ● Pasta, bread, cereal ● Cooked foods ● Egg shells ● Coffee grounds, filters, & tea bags ● Paper towels and paper towel rolls ● Wax paper ● 100% paper products ● Pizza boxes ● Muffin wrappers ● Flour and sugar bags ● Plain paper plates not lined with plastic film ● Baked goods: Candies, cookies, pastries, cake, etc. ● Baking ingredients, herbs, spices ● Household plants including soil ● Pet food ● 100% BPI certified compostable products ● Meat, bones, fish products ● Dairy products
Items we do not accept include but are not limited to: ● PLASTIC (unless labeled BPI Certified compostable) ● Styrofoam meat trays ● Aluminum foil ● Clams, oysters, mussels (basically rocks) ● Candles, synthetic corks and gum ● Artificial flowers and plants ● Rugs, carpets ● Cigarette butts, tobacco ● Dental floss and Q-tips ● Baby wipes ● Disposable mop sheets ● Vacuum cleaner bags ● Pet waste ● Fireplace or BBQ ashes ● Recyclable materials ● Items labeled biodegradable (Basically meaningless. Simply means that an item will break down into smaller parts after disposal so technically even Styrofoam could be called biodegradable.) ● Items labeled Oxo-Biodegradable (leaves tiny plastic particles in compost)
FREE SITES:
FERTILE GROUND COOPERATIVE *FREE
2228 S SANTA FE AVE. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73109
MOSAIC UNITED METHODIST CHURCH *FREE
3131 NW 50TH, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73112
OKC ZOO *FREE
2000 Remington Pl, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
JOY MENNONITE CHURCH *FREE
504 NE 16TH, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104
COMMONWEALTH URBAN FARMS *FREE
801 NW 31st St, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Information provided by Fertile Ground Cooperative, Oklahoma City, OK
