The Coop—a brief story of Egg-cellance.

We can no longer accept used egg cartons.

🛑🥚🛑

We can no longer accept used egg cartons. 🛑🥚🛑

The Food Co-op is no longer able to collect or reuse egg cartons.

Kenna S. Eaton, August 20, 2026

For as long as anyone can remember we’ve been selling bulk eggs at the Co-op. Bulk eggs serve several purposes: a lower price and the ability to re-use egg cartons and we like offering that choice. They used to be kept in one of our dairy cooler doors where multiple times a day they would fall and messily break. Darn it. Then one of us had the bright idea of keeping eggs in their own cooler, one without doors. We called this “The Coop”, and it worked much better. Customers brought in their used egg cartons and others re-used them when packaging up their own eggs.

But that’s about to change. 

Did you know eggs are highly regulated? And we even have an egg inspector who ensures that eggs and egg products meet strict quality, safety and regulatory standards before they reach the consumers? Inspectors don’t only visit producers, they also visit retailers, like us, to ensure eggs are being kept in compliance with state and local rules and regulations. Last time they visited us, they mentioned that our stack of used egg cartons that we stock for customer use didn’t meet WAC (Washington Administrative Code) guidelines.

Recently we heard from our County Health Department–who we have always had a good relationship with and who we greatly appreciate—that we are required to comply with food code requirement as it relates to egg cartons. The bottom line? Reusing fiber egg cartons is not allowed due to the risks of contamination and/or improper labeling.  Because cartons are made of porous material, they cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitized before being provided to the consumer for re-use.

So, what does that mean to you? Food safety is very important to us, as is protecting public health and preventing the distribution of unsafe or substandard eggs. Apparently, it is OK if you want to bring your own egg carton for your own personal use, however, we can no longer take all your old egg cartons (although you can still recycle them with your comingles like mixed paper), and instead we will offer customers new, unused egg cartons to pick out their eggs from The Coop.

Starting the first week of September, we will no longer take you old egg cartons, and you can look for the new egg cartons in the same place as the used ones were located (end of Aisle 2).

Thanks for your grace as we weather this transition!