South Australian retailers and food outlets will be able to give customers the option to bring their own reusable containers without public liability problems with new laws passed in parliament last week.
The changes to the Civil Liability Act 1936 removed liability from cafes, supermarkets and the like for anything that goes wrong with food purchased and transported in a BYO container.
Premier of South Australia Susan Close says this is another important step towards reducing the use of single-use items.
“We know that food packaging waste carries an enormous cost for the environment,” she says.
“Once the packaging has been disposed, it contributes to large quantities of landfill and can end-up in our waterways.
“These changes also respond to the growing number of South Australian consumers wanting to reduce their use of single-use items,” Ms Close says.
Businesses will still be able choose whether or not they will allow consumers to bring their own containers. The bill simply provides protection for the business and does not impose any requirement on them.
In the event a business does act in bad faith, including selling food not fit for consumption, or food subject to a recall order, then they will not be absolved from a civil liability.
Last year Woolworths announced it would trial a BYO container program in select stores.