Richmond shops taking part in Plastic Free July
The month of July was all about reducing your use of single-use plastics.
What better way to do this by visiting these local Richmond businesses with alternative options?
At all of these businesses, you can bring your own reusable containers/cups, products are packaged in paper or compostable materials, or there is paper bag/eco cutlery available. (Each business has one or more of these options, not always all – but they are starting by doing at least one of these.)

Bin Inn Stanmore
Bin Inn Stanmore.
A friendly local shop that attracts customers near and wide. You can bring your own reusable container (jars, fabric bag, bottle, etc) and fill it with so many products. Patrick or his partner will weigh it first before you fill it, and deduct the weight off the total. A note: if you bring refillable bottles, please be sure the mouth of the bottles is wide and open, especially for thicker liquids. And if you've forgotten your container, they have paper bags available for use.
What's your favourite food/product that you buy at Bin Inn? Tell us below in the comments.
And what sorts of foods or products can you bring your own container for? More things than you think!
Dishwash liquid and powder
All purpose cleaner/window spray/toilet cleaner
Shampoo/Conditioner
Flour
Herbs/Spices
Pet Food (bird, dog, cat)
Nuts/Seeds/Dried Fruit
Oils (olive, cooking)
Peanut Butter (that you grind in-store!)
Coffee Beans
Molasses
Loose Tea
Rice/Pasta
Cereals
Lollies
Chocolate Buttons
Tahini
Dutch imported products
Cheese
Yeast
And many more products! Also you can post letters and parcels as they are an official NZ Post outlet.
You might also spot Al Spooner helping out there, from the former Post Shop on North Avon Rd.
Come in and say hi, have a browse around, and tell us what you like about the Bin Inn. 🙂

The Silk Road Food Post
The Silk Road Food Post.
Found next to the Bin Inn, this friendly takeaway shop will serve some of your fresh food in paper! Delicious fish and chips, middle eastern food,and when I was visiting, they had some delicious souvlaki being served up to a customer. You can also bring your own reusable container for them to fill.

Daily Latte & Tea Room
Daily Latte and Tea Room.
Here you can bring your own reusable container to be filled with delicious sandwiches, soups, pastries and more! Or fill your reusable cup with delicious coffee or tea.
Karl will welcome you to his beautiful cafe and also may entice you to try their amazing high teas (also smaller versions available for children).

Richmond Seafoods
Richmond Seafoods (Fish & Chips) is on the corner of Stanmore Rd and Alexandra Street. Here it's pretty simple...nearly everything is served in paper! Easy to grab and take away.
Come here for delicious fish and chips and other yummy fare.

Indian Paradise
Indian Paradise on Stanmore Road.
Here you can bring your own reusable container to fill with their Christchurch-famous biryanis (rice dish) or other delicious Indian food. Mohammed will be happy to serve you the standard-sized biryani or Indian fare, or you can get a family-sized portion too.
They have paper straws available for your mango lassi, which you can also bring your own reusable cup to fill up!

Sections Cafe
Sections Cafe.
Here you can bring your own reusable coffee cup or reusable container to takeaway delicious hot drinks or cafe delights. If you forgot your container, they can also provide takeaway cardboard containers and wooden cutlery.
It was busy when we popped in...a lot of people seemed to like a quick chat with Darrell as they ordered their hot drinks and delicious food.

Richmond Fruit & Vege
Richmond Fruit and Vege on Stanmore Road.
Formerly known as Dan's Fresh Produce, it's under new ownership and now the produce and the shop are being freshened up!
Here you can bring your own reusable produce bags or containers to fill with fresh fruit and vegetables. There are also cardboard boxes available you can fill and take home.
New owner Reet, or one of their friendly employees will be happy to welcome you to their newly refreshed fruit and vegetable shop.

Red Poppy Thai
Red Poppy Thai Restaurant, hidden off Stanmore Road on Avalon Street.
Here you can bring your own reusable container to be filled with delicious Thai food.
Angie is super friendly, and if you're lucky enough, you might meet her daughter when she's helping out, who will greet you with the biggest smile.

Samurai Sushi
Samurai Sushi.
Here you can bring your own reusable container to be filled with delicious made-to-order sushi or rice balls, made by Dongho. It was busy when we stopped in, and rice balls seemed to be the most popular lunchtime choice. Fresh and delicious!

Mexigrill
Mexigrill.
Here you can bring your own reusable container to be filled with delicious tacos, nachos, enchiladas and more! Or they provide containers made from paper, even for salsa!
Aslan will greet you with friendliness and there are so many choices of Mexican food to choose from!

On a Roll Bakery
On a Roll Bakery.
Here you can bring your own container to be filled with classic Kiwi bakery favourites. Or put your delicious hot pies in paper bags.
Vannin serves you with a friendly smile and quick efficiency.

Vinnies/ St Vincent de Paul
Vinnies on Stanmore Road (St Vincent de Paul).
A cornerstone of our community and the epitome of reusing, Vinnies has so many containers/reusable coffee cups available which you can take to shops to reuse. They also have shopping bags, face masks made from repurposed fabric, cutlery, bowls, plates, baskets---you name it, they will probably have it!
Also, did you know that Vinnies takes most materials that come with donated items and reuses them as much as possible? They reuse bubble wrap, reuse clear newspaper plastic sleeves as packaging in-store, recycle metal, reuse cardboard boxes--they are such an important part of giving so many items second lives!
Shop manager Emma shows us just a handful of what reusable containers you can find at Vinnies.

North Avon Fish Fry
North Avon Fish Fry.
Here you can get most of their foods served in paper. Sam and company will serve you delicious fish and chips in a jiffy!

The Bombay Brassiere
The Bombay Brasserie Christchurch.
Here you can bring your own reusable container to fill with their delicious Indian food to takeaway. They also can provide biodegradable cutlery.
Amrit is happy to serve you with a smile, and a chat if you'd like.

Sun Ning Takeaways
Sun Ning Takeaways.
Here you can bring your own reusable container for them to put your delicious meals in. They also use paper bags, and some paper containers are available (possible surcharge). Tasty Chinese meals, wontons, fish and chips, and burgers are all on offer, served with friendliness.

Red Orchid
Red Orchid - Thai Takeaway
Bring your own reusable container and Suksan or Mango will fill it with delicious Thai dishes.
Friendly service and so tasty!

Hibbards Butchery
Hibbards Butchery at 101 Stanmore Road. Even though technically it's the next suburb over, in Linwood, we still consider it our area's friendly local butcher, just over the bridge and down Stanmore Road.
Here you can bring your own reusable container to fill with a wide range of high quality meats.
You'll be welcomed with prompt, friendly service by Jayme or one of the team, and affordable prices for such fresh products. Think 'outside the box' and bring home your meat in your own container, and produce no extra waste.