Recycling and Composting at the Market
Did you know...
In 2009, the Memphis Farmers Market recycled and composted over 1,000 lbs of plastics, aluminum, ecotainer cups and coffee grounds from our recycling bins and market café.
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At Memphis Farmers Market, it's easy to be environmentally friendly - not only can you buy locally sourced, sustainable agriculture, but you can also help us with our recycling and composting efforts.
Our Environmental Philosophy
Starting in the 2008 season, the Memphis Farmers Market began supporting our new environmental philosophy and policies designed to encourage the use of recycled materials at the market, promote the use of alternative transportation to the market and increase awareness of all the environmental benefits of buying locally grown foods. We will be communicating this philosophy through our vendors and volunteers at the market as well as in our digital and print communications. To kick off this new policy, the market will offer recycling bins and encourage market patrons to shop with reusable bags and totes.
Our Environmental Philosophy is founded on three areas of action:
Recyle
- Encourage the use of recycled materials at the market
- Encourage recycling of materials at the market
Reuse
- Rather than purchasing new items, reuse readily available items
- Encourage use of already used plastic bags and reusable totes
Rethink
- Promote the use of alternative transportation to the market including the trolley, bus, scooter, golf carts, bikes, carpooling and walking.
- Promote buying local and eating greener by buying locally grown foods rather than the “1,500 mile” meal.
Recycling
We provide recycling bins for our patrons to recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles and cups purchased at the market café. Look for these bins conveniently located under the pavilion.
Composting at the Market
Also at the market café, we serve our coffee in eco-friendly cups and sleeves, generously provided by International Paper, that are made from compostable, recycled materials. The ecotainer™ is a BPI certified compostable packaging designed for beverages and take-out food. Unlike traditional packaging, ecotainer™ uses a plastic lining made from plants, and are made from fully renewable resources, which require less energy to produce than standard paper hot cups.
To learn more, visit the International Paper ecotainer™ product page. Memphis Farmers Market vendors volunteer to take our ecotainer cups and coffee grounds to add to their composting. So, eventually, the coffee and the cups you drink our coffee from make their way back into the Earth!
Composting Tips and Compost Bins
Occasionally, Earth Machine™ compost bins will be available for sale at the market along with learning sessions on home composting. Come learn how to get started with home composting, make your own garden compost for free and save one-third of your weekly garbage and water bill.
Benefits From Using Compost Bins
- Provides a nutrient rich "super soil" for your garden, lawn and house plants
- Reduces use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides
- Reduce gardening water bill by 30% - composting improves water-holding capacity resulting in reduced dependency on watering
- Reduce garbage by 30% - by composting, your can remove more than 500 lbs of organic matter from your household waste per year, diverting it from collection
- Improves soil texture and water holding capacity where used as an amendment
- Reduces dependence on gasoline for transport to landfills
More composting tips:
Thank You to Our Vendors
Thank you to the following vendors who ;help Memphis Farmers Market composting efforts:
- David Levy of Willow Oaks Flower Farm, Brownsville, TN for taking our ecotainer cups for composting.
- Wolfgang Marquardt of Gardens Oy Vey for taking our coffee grounds for composting.
Environmentally Friendly Shopping Tips
What else can you do to help us be environmentally friendly at the farmers market? Here are some tips:
- Use the MFM shopping tote. If you don’t already have yours, pick up one at the MFM information table. Price: $7 to $20.
- Bring a coffee mug or cold drink cup for drinks purchased at the market café.
- Bring and reuse your own paper shopping bags. We would prefer our vendors and patrons use paper vs. plastic.
- Bring and reuse your own containers. Delicate items, such as strawberries, will get home safely in a plastic (or glass or metal) container. Maybe our container can double as a bowl or plate to enjoy a snack at the market at one of the many tables under our shaded pavilion.
- Refrigerate (or prepare and eat)your produce as soon as you get home, to keep it fresh longer.
- Recycle and compost at home! Learn more about recycling.