EU threatens to bottle up trouble for milkmen (From Warrington Guardian)

EU threatens to bottle up trouble for milkmen

MILKMEN fear new EU rules to scrap pints could damage their business.

Steve Edwards said the proposal could mean an end to glass bottles, which many customers prefer because they can be recycled.

"If this came in I can't see that anyone would start making 500 millilitre glass bottles," he said. "The council have gone to a lot of trouble to push recycling and get the waste mountain down and we've always promoted the glass bottle for that reason."

Sheldon's have saved thousands of pounds by recycling glass bottles and raised hundreds by collecting foil tops for charities such as the East Cheshire Hospice. But Mr Edwards said customers who like doorstep deliveries because their bottles are recycled might be tempted to buy at the supermarket if the rules are agreed. Euro MPs in Brussels are expected to vote tomorrow (Thursday) on a new directive to standardise metric packages. Reports claim it could also affect bread, sugar, butter and rice.

Each day Sheldon's milkmen, who are based on the Parkgate Industrial Estate, deliver 6,000 pints of milk.

On Monday Mr Edwards said the milkmen would ask their customers to petition against any changes. "It is traditional hearing the clunking of milk bottles on the float in the morning," said Mr Edwards.

"You can't trade on tradition forever, but it would be another part of this country that would be lost.

"This would be a very big nail in the coffin of doorstep delivery because glass bottles are our unique selling point."