The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has secured a commitment from Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister, that he will take up her idea of asking supermarkets in Wales to use glass instead of plastic milk bottles.
Janet, who also serves as Shadow Minister for Climate Change, has already seen some supermarkets agree to stop selling disposable BBQs, and has now reached out to the Welsh Government for assistance in tackling the continued use of plastic milk bottles.
Commenting after securing the First Minister’s agreement, Janet said:
“There is no denying that Wales continues to suffer from a plastic plague, so more action is needed to protect our environment.
“WRAP Cymru worked with Monmouthshire County Council to review their choice of switching from single-use plastic milk bottles to re-usable glass milk bottles. The findings are remarkable. The move to glass resulted in cost-savings of 39% for the local authority, and a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions!
“Bearing in mind that Rhondda Cynon Taf alone recycled 750 tonnes of glass last year – enough to make bottles to contain 2.7 million pints of milk – I see no reason why Wales cannot follow and build on the example of Monmouthshire.
“Whilst our trusted milkmen already deliver milk in glass bottles, it is the supermarkets which are letting the side down.
“I am delighted that the First Minister as agreed to assist by cooperating with supermarkets in an effort to see them transition from plastic to glass milk bottles”.
ENDS
