Five Countdown stores in Dunedin and Mosgiel went free of single-use checkout plastic bags yesterday, joining a third of the chain's stores nationwide.
Opposition Foodstuffs said its supermarket brands, including New World, Pak 'n Save and Four Square, would stop providing plastic checkout bags by the end of the year.
Last week the Government pledged to rid the country of plastic bags by July next year.
At the Dunedin Central Countdown, most shoppers remembered to bring bags from home yesterday.
Trevor Newall (88) said he had used reusable bags for years.
``I'm for it. The plastic causes a lot of trouble to animals and things like that.''
However, he was not sure what he would use for a rubbish bin liner.
``I guess we'll cross that river when we come to it.''
Dunedin shopper Nick Smith was carrying milk and other products loose in his arms outside the store yesterday because of the lack of plastic bags.
``It's my friend's. I don't know what he was thinking, buying this much stuff. I said I'd help him carry it back to the office.''
He admitted his arms were ``a bit cold from the frozen stuff''.
He supported the move to no plastic bags so long as it was not an easy ``scapegoat', he said.
``As long as it's decided it's a major issue, then I'm keen.''
He would be less keen if it was just a way for supermarkets to look good, he said.
Store manager Ron Andrew said more people had started bringing in reusable bags over the past few weeks.
In Australia, there had been reports of some shoppers showing frustration over the change, including a man in West Australia putting his hands around a supermarket worker's throat.
Dunedin's transition went smoothly, Mr Andrew said.
The store's remaining plastic bags were redistributed to stores which had not yet gone plastic-free.
The store still had plastic bags at its deli and bakery.
``We're starting with checkout bags. To get rid of those is a big start.''
The supermarket is encouraging people to bring their own bags, and also selling stronger multiple-use plastic bags and canvas bags, with free replacements.
