glass milk bottles

Image:94% of milk came in glass bottles in 1975

The war on plastic waste could spark the return of the neighbourhood milkman as figures show demand for milk in glass bottles is on the rise.

In 1975, 94% of the UK's milk was transported in glass bottles compared to just under 3% in 2016 - but that could soon change.

Milkmen are reporting a rise in demand for traditional glass bottles with consumers appearing to boycott the plastic alternatives, which took over the market in the 1990s.

Steve Hayden, of Parker Dairies in east London, said the company has already picked up 100 new customers in 2018 - most of whom wanted their milk in glass bottles.

Image:Milkmen have reported a boost in sales

He said it was down to "tradition" and "nostalgia" but also because the bottles are returnable and better for the environment.

"One of these bottles makes at least 20 trips before it breaks," the milkman of 30 years told Sky News. "It takes them back to their childhoods."

Another milkman has even resorted to refurbishing his disused milk float to cope with orders.

Image:A milkman doing his rounds with a hand-pulled float in 1966

Mark Woodman, of Woodman's Dairy in Cardiff, also puts the surge in sales down to the public's distaste for plastic waste.

"This week and last week we’ve been inundated with phone calls asking us if we deliver glass bottles," he told WalesOnline.

"We've had 50 to 100 people call in this week, with 30 to 40 new customers off the internet looking to cut down on their use of plastic.

"It's great for us – anything that gives us a bit of business back from the supermarkets is really good for us."

Image:Steve Hayden said most of his new customers wanted glass bottles

Mr Woodman said he was receiving about 140 enquiries a week from those looking to ditch plastic for glass and that his business had seen a "real resurgence" in the past two years.

Home deliveries in the UK are up to about a million a day, according to Dairy UK, which represents the Britain's milk industry.