Atlantic Dairy Council and Province Sign Memo

The Atlantic Dairy Council and the Province of Nova Scotia are another step closer to a dairy industry stewardship agreement. Today the council signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of the Environment that will assist them in developing a product stewardship agreement on milk and dairy containers.

Agriculture Minister Ed Lorraine signed the document on behalf of Environment Minister Don Downe. "I want to commend the Atlantic Dairy Council on taking a leadership role here," said Mr. Lorraine. "This memorandum of understanding recognizes that government and industry have established a spirit of cooperation as we consider the waste management problems posed by products and packaging."

Mel MacConnell, chair of the Dairy Council's Milk Processors' Division, signed the memorandum of understanding on behalf of his colleagues. "This gives us a framework in which to discuss some of the key elements of a formal stewardship arrangement," said Mr. MacConnell. "It is a true partnership in that it provides for the constructive involvement of processors and marketers in the management of solid waste."

"This is a milestone," said Ritchie Cotton, Warden of Richmond County and chair of the Waste Management Regions Committee. "We are encouraged about what this could mean in terms of waste reduction opportunities across Nova Scotia. It's another step in our goal to find the best ways to meet our waste management targets while ensuring it is done in a cost-effective manner for all involved."

The Atlantic Dairy Council represents milk processors in Nova Scotia. On hand for today's ceremony were executive members Mel MacConnell, executive vice-president and chief executive officer of Scotsburn Dairy Group, Don Cook, general manager of Cook's Dairy, Andy MacGillivray, president and chief operating officer of Baxter Foods Ltd., Chris Power, president and chief executive officer of Farmers Co-operative Dairy Ltd., and Jim MacConnell, president and chief executive officer of Scotsburn Dairy Group.

Today's signing culminates months of discussions between municipalities, the provincial government and the dairy industry. The end result will provide a much needed framework for developing program assistance to aid municipalities in delivering efficient recycling programs for milk containers. It will also help establish environmentally efficient packaging which makes Nova Scotia an Atlantic Canadian leader in recycling dairy industry packaging.