A community-run supermarket in the Illawarra is aiming to reduce waste to zero and put an end to single-use plastics.
Customers at Port Grocer are invited to fill their own glass jars, paper bags and reusable containers from a series of bulk-food dispensers.
Manager Nina Welsh said the response to the store's opening this week was overwhelming.
"A lot of people are really excited to see that there's a supermarket back here on Wentworth Street in Port Kembla," she said.
"It's been busy since we opened on Monday and there are still people coming through constantly.
"A lot of people are quite curious to see what we're stocking."
The community won a $175,000 grant from the State Government to start the initiative.
Ms Welsh said the project was in its infancy and was still working towards its goal of being 100 per cent waste-free.
"There is always going to be an amount of packaging that is used, and that will always be a challenge," she said.
"We're not going to get it perfect in the beginning, but we want to do everything we can to reduce waste."
Volunteers will help run the grocery store, along with three full-time employees.
Striking a balance
Paul Hellier, from Fair Food Foragers, has been helping to drive the program.
He said he hoped locals from across the region would keep an open mind.
"We want to introduce this type of shopping to anybody who might not be interested in any type of zero waste," he said.
"So we're really trying to strike a balance between affordability and zero waste."
Mr Hellier said hygiene was also a priority, particularly during the global health pandemic.
"All the provided glass containers are being run through a super hot dishwasher, there's handwash at the front door and staff are wiping everything down," he said.
"So all of the safety requirements, in terms of germs, are being taken care of."
He said he hoped other organisations would follow suit.
"I would like to see this be the benchmark for this type of initiative," Mr Hellier said.
Port Kembla resident James Andrew said he was impressed by the store.
"I think people are going to start to think more about what they're buying and the effects of that," he said.
"I don't think you can get everything here, but they source interesting items and I do think it's a feasible way to shop."
