Supermarkets ask customers for low-value coins

Belgian supermarkets have launched an appeal for shoppers to bring in any small bronze coins they have stashed away at home.

RTL reports that banks are facing a shortage of 1, 2 and 5 cent coins and have asked retailers for their help.

There are hundreds of millions of low-value coins currently in circulation in Belgium - but many of them end up being stored away in piggy banks.

Carrefour has placed signs in all of its stores asking customers to put their small coins to use.

"We're asking the few customers who still pay in cash to give us the exact amount where possible," a spokesperson said. "This avoids us having to give out 1, 2 and 5 cent coins in change.

"We also want customers who have kept small bronze coins in a jar at home to bring them back to the store so we can exchange them."

Economy minister Kris Peeters is working on a draft law to round shopping bills to the nearest five cents, following a campaign by Flemish business union Unizo. Two other unions representing retailers, Comeos and UCM, agree with the idea.