Common Questions, Answered

First time refilling? Start here.

This page collects the things shoppers ask us most at Thicket Refillery — how the tare scale works, what you can carry in from home, which shops keep which bins, and how the rewards ledger adds up. If your question isn’t below, a note to the counter usually comes back the same afternoon.

At the Shop

→Can I carry in jars and bottles from home?

Please do. Any clean, dry, empty vessel works — we weigh it on the tare scale before you fill. Arrive empty-handed and the front counter keeps washed glass jars, kraft sacks, and cotton produce bags on a small deposit.

→How does shopping package-free actually work?

Filling up takes four steps:

  • Weigh your empty vessels on the tare scale by the door.
  • Note the bin code for whatever you are filling.
  • Take as much or as little as you like — no minimum.
  • Carry everything to the counter to settle up.

Still unsure? Whoever is on the floor will walk you through it.

→Do the shops stock more than the website?

They do. Our floors carry a deeper range of refillables and low-waste staples, including chilled goods and liquids we are not able to post. Come by to see the whole assortment. Worth knowing: ask the counter about the back shelf.

→Do you take EBT, SNAP, or state nutrition benefits?

We do, at every counter, so package-free shopping stays within reach for more households on the block.

→How do I reach one particular shop?

Ordering & Delivery

→Can I buy online and collect in the shop?

Yes. Place the order, choose a pickup shop, and most baskets are packed inside two hours. A note lands in your inbox the moment your plastic-free order is on the hold shelf.

→Do you post orders across the country?

We send plastic-free parcels anywhere in the lower 48 by ground service. Most leave the same working day, and carriage is on us once a basket passes $140.

→What are shipped orders packed in?

Everything travels waste-conscious:

  • Dry goods are sealed in home-compostable, plant-based cellulose sleeves
  • Liquids ride in returnable glass with a rubber gasket
  • Cartons are 100% post-consumer board, taped shut with gummed paper

Before you toss: peel the labels off so the board composts cleanly in your municipal bin.

→Can I add a note to my order?

There is a notes field at checkout, right below the basket. Tell us your grind (name the brew method), ask for kraft sacks in place of cellulose, or request hand-lettered tags rather than printed ones. We are glad to shape a plastic-free parcel around how you actually cook.

Forgot something? Write to orders@thicketrefill.co and we will try to catch it before the carton is sealed.

→Where do I check my rewards balance?

Your ledger sits under Account → Rewards, and it refreshes the morning after each visit.

Take-Back & Recycling

→Will you take soft plastic film and bags?

Yes. We gather clean, dry, stretchy film for a regional reprocessing co-op that mills it into decking boards and outdoor furniture.

Note: rigid plastics are not accepted, and please peel every label before you drop off.

→Do you collect used corks?

We do. Natural cork travels to a partner mill that grinds it into carbon-negative soles and flooring. Natural only, please — synthetic stoppers cannot be processed.

→What about empty CO2 cylinders?

Bring them in. We take spent cylinders from every common sparkling-water system and handle the return ourselves, which keeps the steel in rotation rather than in a landfill. Hand one over and a little comes off the price of your next full cylinder — an easy way to keep the bubbles going with less waste behind them.

→Can I send jars back to you?

Yes — read how our in-shop Closed-Loop Jar Return works.

Bulk Orders

→Do you fill large or case-sized orders?

We take 12% off full-case quantities — usually 15, 30, or 60 pounds. It is a straightforward way to stock a pantry while cutting the packaging that comes with it. Write to bulk@thicketrefill.co and we will price it out.

Maker Submissions

→I make something — how do I get it onto your shelves?

We are always hunting for considered, low-waste goods. Post samples to → 118 Alder Row, Fernwood, OR 97214 + send the details to makers@thicketrefill.co — please include pricing, case options / foodservice sizes, lead times, freight costs, and anything else we should weigh.

Note: the volume of submissions means we cannot reply to every one. Thank you all the same for thinking of us.

Neighborhood & Events

→I am putting on an event — can you join?

Gladly. Feeding a room is our favorite part of the week, and the Pop-Up Cart and Snack Ladder suit markets, street fairs, and small gatherings alike. If you are hosting and want something sweet standing next to something salty, send the details through the event form → here.

Workplace Programs

→Can you help our office cut its packaging waste?

We will restock a break room in bulk, which means better food for the team and no drawer full of single-use wrappers. Write to workplace@thicketrefill.co for a plan shaped around your floor plan and headcount.

Media & Press

→I am a writer or reporter — where do I send questions?

Press notes go to press@thicketrefill.co. We would love to hear from you, and past coverage is collected → here.