Supermarket welcomes BYO food containers

A SURF Coast IGA is accepting bring-your-own containers in its deli section, in a Victorian supermarket first.

The Torquay store launched the BYO scheme a few weeks ago, allowing customers to put food items such as meats, seafood, olives and cheeses into their own reusable containers.

Deli scales are being reset for each purchase, to ensure customers don’t pay for the weight of their container.

The store is set to trial the new sustainable initiative over the next few months, before deciding if the scheme will become permanent.

Plastic Wise Torquay action group spokesman Robert Skehan backed the sustainable move by the independent supermarket.

“It’s a really positive thing,” Mr Skehan said. “People want to have that option to bring their own containers.

“The fact there is ever increasing piles of garbage in landfill — we as a society need to work together to look for solutions.”

The scheme comes after the Surf Coast Shire encouraged shoppers to bring their own containers to stores in a bid to reduce plastic consumption amid the region’s waste crisis.

“Unfortunately single-use plastic has become common when we buy from takeaway shops, cafes, delis and more,” Mayor Rose Hodge said.

“Next time you’re shopping, consider where the packaging is going to end up and consider if there’s a better choice you can make.”

According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand, food safety laws do not prevent retailers from allowing customers to use their own containers.

However, supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles both shunned the BYO scheme due to “food safety” reasons.

“Coles does not allow customers to bring in their own containers to use as it poses a health and safety risk,” a Coles statement read.

“It also makes it very difficult for us to do a thorough investigation if a customer becomes ill and we are unsure where the container used came from.”

According to a Woolworths statement, there were contamination risks of bringing non-sterilised containers into meat, seafood and deli departments.

The Geelong Advertiser understands IGA Torquay has the right to reject dirty or damaged containers for health and safety reasons.

Mr Skehan said the community supported the scheme, despite the risks involved.

“There’s no regulations stopping them from doing it,” he said. “It’s been well received. In time it will just be the norm.”

The Addy contacted the owner of IGA Torquay but he declined to comment.