Years ago, Laura Porter read a news story about pollution along the coast, and the accompanying photo of plastic-littered beaches stuck with her, so much so that she opened a business dedicated to reducing waste.
Byrd’s Filling Station opened in 2022 in downtown San Mateo, garnering attention as a one-stop-shop for plastic-free consumer goods and products ranging from produce to cleaning products and kitchenware. Disposable shopping bags and single-use plastics are not sold. Instead, consumers fill up with bulk bins, using a more sustainable approach to their shopping habits.
“When I started trying to buy plastic free, I saw how hard it was,” Porter said. “It was just a lot of work, going to different stores. I was thinking, ‘I’m willing to put in all this work, and most people aren’t. And it’s still too hard.’’”
But Porter recently announced that the store will close down Aug. 11, not from lack of demand but personal changes affecting the store’s financial longevity. Between a divorce, taking on a full-time job and wanting to spend more time with her children, she said the decision was tough, but she knows it’s the right one.
“Any small business takes time to get up and running but, unfortunately, it was also a personal thing for me,” she said, adding that they tried to sell or lease the store but didn’t find the right fit. “That’s what led to the tough decision. … The reaction has been heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.”
Byrd's Filling Station in downtown San Mateo.
Arianna Cunha/Daily Journal
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That doesn’t mean this is the last of plastic-free shopping in San Mateo though, as the effort was part of a larger movement toward more conscious and sustainable shopping habits. Many customers turned into regular patrons, and Porter said even infrequent shoppers attested to how the store’s presence alone made them aware of how disengaged they were from the wastefulness of traditional consumer products.
But deeply-ingrained habits are hard to change, especially when they involve quick and convenient consumption. Education turned out to be Byrd’s biggest marketing strategy, with Porter partnering with local organizations and agencies, such as schools, to educate students on the importance of reducing waste. Kids would then tell their parents about the store, which would have a successful word-of-mouth effect. They also frequently worked with other community-based organizations with similar goals.
“Being in corporate finance for 20 years, I know this business model still has teeth,” she said. “This is starting to catch on in the U.S. You see more refill stores popping up more and more. When I started the online business in 2019, there were about 10 in the country. Now there’s about 19 in the Bay Area alone.”
The store will shut its doors on Aug. 11, but Porter said she isn’t closing the door on nudging people toward a plastic-free lifestyle.
“We’re still considering options to keep plastic-free resources in San Mateo,” she said. “I don’t believe this is the last of plastic-free shopping here.”
Sorry to hear the store is closing. The store offered an option for what it sounds like, to a fair number of folks that walked the walk in attempting to reduce their plastic usage. I’m surprised, especially in our local area, that nobody was willing to take over the store. Good luck to Ms. Porter as she finds a better life balance.
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(1) comment
Sorry to hear the store is closing. The store offered an option for what it sounds like, to a fair number of folks that walked the walk in attempting to reduce their plastic usage. I’m surprised, especially in our local area, that nobody was willing to take over the store. Good luck to Ms. Porter as she finds a better life balance.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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