Support Welsh Farmers and Cut Down the 'Milk Miles'

12.00.00am GMT Wed 25th Nov 2009

Lib Dems say supporting local milk producers will cut down on 'milk miles'

A local Assembly Member is calling for more support in the Assembly for Welsh school milk.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Michael German added his name to the calls saying, "The supply of Welsh school milk is an excellent way to support a market for Welsh milk and to support our local economies. Sadly at the moment I am concerned about the sustainability of school milk, as the milk supplied in large parts of Wales is coming from Scotland and Ireland in cartons which cannot be recycled in the UK.

Talking about the added environmental impact of the sourcing of milk from outside Wales, Mr. German said, "This journey from Scotland and Ireland is adding hundreds of milk miles to the milk that is being drunk by pupils in Welsh schools. Yet in Wales we have a fantastic dairy sector that is struggling against the challenge of huge increases in input costs and powerful supermarkets with no intention of sharing their profits with producers"

He added saying that 'recycyling facilities for cartons was not great as it should be' saying, "Cartons are ending up in landfill as they cannot be recycled here, yet we have an company with a recyclable poly bottle which can offer a more environmentally friendly option for school milk.

"It is crucial that we see more support to procure and promote sustainable Welsh milk and ensure that our children in schools across Wales continue to receive free school milk that has been produced in their local communities."