Jamie Sandoval’s mobile shop. (Courtesy Jamie Sandoval)
Trash and waste are a huge problem on planet Earth these days with consumers going through bags, boxes, straws and other things daily and even hourly.
So, Jamie Sandoval started a business to lessen the wasteful behavior here in Rio Rancho.
“I know I am not perfect in my sustainability journey, but my goal is making progress, not perfection. Everyone can do something.” Sandoval said.
Sandoval took a trip to Kauai, Hawaii in the fall of 2021 where she saw her first refill store.
“I knew I wanted to be a part of this movement to create a place where you can buy sustainable and clean products to refill and eliminate the use of single-use plastics,” she said.
Rio Refills offers more than affordable sustainability though, and it’s all from the door of a mobile camper.
Items sold include laundry soap, hand soap, cleaning supplies, floss, toothpaste, hair care items, and every reusable container from water bottles to mason jars for storage.
No, the soap and toothpaste aren’t the reusable part.
But Sandoval does refills.
The main part of her business is reusing containers and prolonging the use of goods, so people don’t have to waste as much and reduce the use of single-use plastics.
Sandoval believes quality should never be compromised and promises all of her products are made to last.
According to the National Resources Defense Council, people’s reliance on plastics means we are accumulating waste at a staggering rate.
Humans produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. That’s nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population, according to the council.
Sandoval’s website goes into more detail on pricing. Click here for more information.
Here is where the mobile unit will be within the next week:
11/18- Broadmoor Senior Market 8-1 p.m.
11/21- Parked Premiere Cinemas 3-6 p.m.
11/26- Small Business Saturday. Enchanted Hills Plaza 10-3 p.m.
