Leave zero waste, refill and reuse. Expanding business does that, with pickup and delivery

Michaela Barnett launched KnoxFill – Knoxville’s first zero-waste refillery – from her new South Knoxville home in late February 2021. Now, just short of her two-year anniversary, Barnett has achieved her dream of opening a bulk store and a hub for the sustainability community.

“It is the hardest and most beautiful thing I have done,” Barnett said. “I feel like I am learning 15 things each day and maybe I’ll remember three of them at the end of the day.”

Barnett had been looking for a space for a while. Feeling frustrated, she hit pause with her real estate agent, Christa Rosenberg. Then she spotted a former hardware store at 3211 South Haven Road, just five minutes from her house and Ijams Nature Center.

“I couldn’t find one space that had everything,” she said. “This was fate; you have to give up and stop looking before it appears.” Barnett had the keys on Dec. 17.

The retail space had been used as storage for years but was a blank canvas. While she waited for permits, Barnett ran the rest of her business from the new building.

“Ninety-five percent of everything is secondhand, including some fixtures from a grocery store that closed down,” she said. “A lot was found on Facebook Marketplace and at thrift stores.”

Barnett refinished and painted everything for a cohesive look. Admittedly it would have been easier to buy everything at a big box store in one trip, but she prefers that everything has been “previously used and loved.”

KnoxFill is growing in every way. “We are still doing weekly delivery and pickup,” Barnett said. “The one exception is our South Knoxville pickup partner because we now have this location. We are still going to be popping up at events with Fillomena, the mobile refillery I refinished and launched at events last November. We hired a refilling maverick to run that.”

KnoxFill’s goal is to offer better alternatives to wasteful products, and to that end Barnett sourced bathroom, cleaning, dental care, kitchen, laundry and personal care goods that are high quality, with little to no packaging.

“We have really expanded a lot of different options, and bulk refilling is going to be so much easier for people,” Barnett said. “Now we have a space that will be open Tuesday through Sunday.”

KnoxFill has prioritized local makers wherever possible. KnoxGirl Soap will have an exclusive corner while carrying Tonya Rea’s teas, Smoky Mountain Spices, and partnering with 865 Candle Company to return candle containers, reuse and refill them.

Also new to the store is Tina Rosling’s pottery, Frog Juice Kombucha on tap, a specialty recycling area and expanded section for bulk spices and tea.

“There are hundreds of products; I think that gets people,” Barnett said. “They think we only have six items. We will now have refillable items, like our bulk deodorant and skin care options. They can bring their own containers now.”

It was important for Barnett to source products that are as good or better than major household brands. Just some of the refill options include hand soap, laundry detergent, dishwasher powder, shampoo, bodywash, and body lotions. On the shelves, customers will find low-waste items including bamboo brushes, soap dishes and straws.

Instead of single-use plastic, KnoxFill also has a space to build a container, top a recycled glass jar with a reusable pour spout, pump, sprayer or bamboo lid.

In the hallway outside the order packing room, a library has been started with the donation of 25 books focusing on sustainability.

The building had outdoor space to park Fillomena, plus tables to meet about important issues or host workshops. And there is bike and puppy parking for visitors.

“I really want to add my gratitude that this is a community effort,” Barnett said. “I don’t want this to be the ‘Michaela Show,’ and it is only possible because of the 1,000 plus Knoxvillians that embrace and support us.”

KnoxFill’s certificate of occupancy should be in hand, and when it is Barnett will announce a grand opening celebration on Instagram. “We hope to have a loofah making workshop, and people can bring their own totes and T-shirts and a mobile screen printer will help print them,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: KnoxFill helps sustainability community leave zero waste