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Stop Throwing Away Plastic: See The Maplewood Shop That Has Kept Over 16,000 Bottles Out Of Landfills

Picture yourself walking into a shop where throwing away plastic bottles becomes a thing of the past.

Good Bottle Refill Shop has transformed how New Jersey residents approach household shopping since opening its doors in September 2019.

Founded by former retail buyer Deanna Taylor-Heacock after she saved an astounding $10,000 in one year by switching to refillable products, this pioneering establishment became the Garden State’s very first refill shop.

Located inside the General Store Cooperative in Maplewood, just 15 miles from New York City, this zero-waste haven makes sustainable living accessible and affordable for everyone.

The shop has already kept over 16,000 bottles out of recycling bins and landfills, proving that small changes create massive environmental impact.

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What You Can Refill

Laundry Essentials: The concentrated liquid laundry detergent stands out as a customer favorite, priced at just 25 cents per weighted ounce.

You only need about one ounce per regular load, making it incredibly economical compared to big-name brands. The shop also carries laundry strips, powder detergent, fabric softener pods, and even unbleach for those tough stains.

Kitchen & Cleaning Products: Stock up on dish soap, dishwasher detergent in multiple forms including pods and gel, all-purpose cleaner, floor cleaner, bathroom cleaner, granite cleaner, and wood polish.

The toilet cleaning tablets have earned a playful nickname among regulars as the shop offers everything you need to keep your home sparkling without harsh chemicals or wasteful packaging.

Bath & Body Care: Transform your bathroom routine with refillable shampoo and conditioner available in both liquid gel and solid bar forms. The shop features products from trusted brands like Oneka and carries body wash, shower gel, lotion, shea butter, castile soap, and even non-petroleum jelly.

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Personal care extends to toothpaste tablets that turn to paste when chewed, mouthwash tablets, dry shampoo, and jojoba oil.

Specialty Items: Beyond refills, you’ll discover facial care products including toner, moisturizer, gel face wash, and makeup remover from brands like Zerra & Co. The shop stocks deodorant from Meow Meow Tweet and Papr, hand sanitizer, cleaning vinegar concentrate, and even bubble bath for relaxing evenings.

Sustainable Alternatives: Good Bottle doesn’t stop at refills. Browse their selection of reusable facial rounds, Swedish dish cloths, unpaper towels, dish brushes with replaceable heads, beeswax food wraps, and compostable sponges that replace single-use versions cluttering landfills.

How The Refill Process Works

Bring Your Own Container: Grab any empty bottle from home—whether it’s your old laundry jug, a mason jar, or that fancy shampoo bottle you couldn’t bear to toss. The shop welcomes containers of all shapes and sizes, or you can purchase beautiful glass or aluminum bottles on-site if you prefer starting fresh.

Weigh, Fill, Pay: The process couldn’t be simpler. Your container gets weighed empty, then filled with your chosen product, and weighed again. You pay only for the product by the ounce, which means you control exactly how much you purchase. No more buying giant containers when you only need a little bit.

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Label Your Bottles: Create a personalized refill system at home by labeling your good bottles. The shop provides everything you need to organize your sustainable household routine efficiently.

Join The Good Bottle Loop: Can’t make it to the shop?

Their innovative delivery service brings refills straight to your doorstep in reusable containers. When you place your next order, simply rinse out the empties and leave them by your door for pickup.

The service operates like a modern-day milkman, covering 20 towns including Montclair, Bloomfield, Irvington, Orange, Livingston, Chatham, Hoboken, and Jersey City.

The Shopping Experience

Thoughtful Layout: The store showcases excellent organization with clearly defined sections for cleaning products, laundry supplies, bath and body items, and lifestyle products. Deanna’s 15 years of retail experience at Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and BareNecessities.com shines through in the aesthetic presentation and smooth customer flow.

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Welcoming Atmosphere: The space radiates warmth and accessibility. The shop operates as a judgment-free zone where newcomers to zero-waste living receive genuine encouragement rather than intimidation. Whether you’re a seasoned environmentalist or just beginning to explore sustainable options, you’ll feel right at home.

Educational Mission: Beyond selling products, Good Bottle serves as an information resource. The website offers statistics on waste reduction and explains the zero-waste movement, empowering customers with knowledge to make informed choices.

Community Hub: As part of the General Store Cooperative, the shop exists within a larger ecosystem of local artists, bakers, and entrepreneurs working together to strengthen community bonds and promote sustainability.

Practical Considerations

Competitive Pricing: The shop offers mid-tier pricing that aligns with conventional grocery stores, dispelling the myth that sustainable shopping requires a luxury budget. The concentrated formulas mean you use less product, stretching your dollar further while reducing packaging waste.

Hours & Accessibility: Open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm, with Tuesdays as the rest day. The convenient Springfield Avenue location provides easy access for locals and visitors from neighboring towns.

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Multiple Shopping Options: Choose between in-store shopping, curbside pickup for quick convenience, or the Good Bottle Loop delivery service that brings sustainability directly to your home. This flexibility accommodates various schedules and comfort levels.

Quality Over Quantity: The shop carefully curates products from U.S. companies sharing the same environmental values. Brands like Rustic Strength, Vermont Soap Company, Meliora, and BioKleen offer paraben-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable formulas that work beautifully without harsh chemicals.

Parking & Location: Situated within the General Store Cooperative Café & Marketplace complex, parking accommodations make visiting straightforward for those driving in from surrounding areas.

Small Steps Count: The philosophy here embraces progress over perfection. You don’t need to transform your entire pantry overnight or commit to a completely zero-waste lifestyle. Every refilled bottle makes a difference, and the shop celebrates each customer’s journey toward reduced waste.


Good Bottle Refill Shop
📍 1875 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040

Writer: Danny Russo
Click to read bio

I grew up on the Jersey Shore and now call Asbury Park home. Generally I write about local news and events, and local attractions around the state.