Many customers choose to bring own containers for food

PETALING JAYA: Many customers are doing their bit for the environment by choosing to bring their own containers and tiffin carriers to buy food.

They chose not to use the plastic boxes provided by food stalls following the ban of polystyrene containers.

University student Grace Yeoh, 47, believed tiffin carriers were healthier options as she did not trust putting hot food into plastic boxes.

The Penangite had been using a tiffin carrier for over two years as the state had banned the use of polystyrene since 2012.

Selangor, along with Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, had introduced a similar ban starting Jan 1.

Yeoh said she did not find it inconvenient or expensive as the tiffin carrier was reusable.

A check at several kopitiam around Petaling Jaya revealed that hawkers had started using plastic boxes instead of polystyrene ones.

However, they still gave customers plastic bags to carry their takeaway.

Kitchen Shop senior sales consultant Kasturi Maniam, 39, said sales of reusable containers had been brisk leading up to the ban.

“I recommend customers to get the stainless steel containers because they’re long lasting and don’t stain, compared to plastic,” said Kasturi who had been using such boxes for her family for about two years.

Liew Kelvin, 32, and his wife Jeanne Ng, 29, said they considered buying more reusable containers following the ban.

We don’t like using plastic for food,” he said.

Manager Yong Min Jie, 36, said bringing containers from home was troublesome.

“I’m a guy who prefers convenience, so I don’t mind paying for plastic bags or boxes as I shop,” he added.