Bag ban kicks in at food outlets

TOWNSVILLE foodies beware of red- hot curries and steaming fried rice containers because local restaurants are also preparing to give plastic bags the boot.

Shopkeepers are preparing customers for a major attitude adjustment when the State Government’s plastic bag ban kicks in tomorrow.

Some savvy store owners have been preparing customers in advance to get them used to the new routine, while others have been forced to out of necessity, as their suppliers cut off the stream of shopping bags.

Tobin Fish Tales owner Renae Tobin said their sustainability- focused takeaway store phased plastic bags out a fortnight ago and the transition had been smooth so far.

“I think it took a fair few people by surprise,” she said.

“We’ve actually started early and only had one complaint so far.”

She said they were offering customers boxes or paper bags for 60 cents as an alternative.

Mrs Tobin said lots of regulars and even new customers were already bringing their own bags.

Bushland Beach Convenience and Takeaway owner Veronica Smith said some people “aren’t happy” about the change but she expected they would get used to it.

She expected the first month to be difficult as some had forgotten the ban was coming in, while others had been confused by the fact Woolworths and Coles had phased out single- use plastic bags at different times.

“It’s the law, we’ve got to abide by the law,” Ms Smith said.

“You can’t give out a free bag. It’s a $ 6300 fine.”

Reef Thai Restaurant on Flinders St had a notice on the front window advising customers to bring their own bags from July 1 to carry their takeaway orders home.