HC Deb 22 November 1949 vol 470 c28W
93. Mr. Janner

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the waste of glass bottles and jars of all types at the present time; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this matter, and thereby prevent the diversion of labour into unnecessary channels.

Mr. J. Edwards:

There are already efficient recovery and reconditioning arrangements for milk and beer bottles and other glass containers which lend themselves to regular collection in uncon-taminated condition. Similar arrangements cannot readily be made for other types of container, and I am not prepared to attempt to press packers to use recovered containers in the place of new ones whose cleanliness and sterility must normally be more reliable. I understand that, in general, the labour needed to collect, sort, cleanse and, where necessary, sterilize used bottles and jars would be as great as that needed to make new ones.