Plastic Free Mt Albert co-ordinator Fleur Tuck at a Mt Albert business taking part in its campaign.

An Auckland community is doing its bit to reduce plastic waste by encouraging eateries to let customers bring their own takeaway containers.

Plastic Free Mt Albert co-ordinator Fleur Tuck said a small group got together after talk on social media about how to reduce the "eye watering" amount of plastic leaving takeaways in the area.

The group looked at all types of sustainable plastics they could encourage businesses to use but decided that wasn't the way to go.

"Ultimately it came back down to actually reusing what you already have at home," Tuck said.

READ MORE:

* Countdown removes plastic from its own products, bans plastic straws

* Large companies' promise to move to more sustainable plastics a 'false solution', Greenpeace says

* Having a go at life without plastic bags

"It's not about buying a greener product, it's about reusing and repurposing items that you have in your home."

123rf Fleur Tuck says reducing plastic waste is all about using what you already have at home (file photo).

"The ice cream container is fantastic, it's so hardy," she said.

But Tuck said people needed to be given the "psychological permission" to bring in their own container to an eatery without feeling uncomfortable.

"[We thought] a poster saying it's OK would be a great idea," she said.

DANIELLE CLENT/STUFF Boston Bakery in Mt Albert is one of the eateries taking part in the Plastic Free Mt Albert campaign.

The group started approaching eateries along New North Rd earlier this year and Tuck said the majority agreed to let customers bring their own containers.

Asian takeaways were the main target as they used a lot of plastic but bakeries and cafes were also approached.

"Asian food tends to be sloppy, although delicious, whereas fish and chips can be wrapped in paper. They were our target market."

The businesses participating in the campaign display a poster or have pamphlets with a #TakeYourOwn slogan showing they support reducing plastic waste.

Boston Bakery was one of a number of eateries that has already agreed to participate.

Manager Steve Chea said the business was more than happy to help and said it had been accepting containers for takeaway food for about three weeks.

Chea said the initiative would help the environment and was also convenient for customers.

Tuck said the decline of the environment due to plastic waste affected her daily and she wanted to do her part to fix it.

"Seeing the inaction of Government for so long has been a driver but ultimately, the Government only follows the hearts and the minds of the people," she said.

"It's up to us. We have to point the finger squarely on ourselves to do something about it."