A light-proof milk bottle described as a world innovation is being criticised by recyclers who say the complex packaging has a number of drawbacks including potential effects on the environment.
Fonterra last month launched a "world-first" triple layer Anchor bottle, which it says protects milk from light and keeps it fresher and tasting better for longer.
However, the change has prompted a backlash from recycling companies who say the bottles need more energy and resources to manufacture than the single-layer see-through bottle, making them a lower quality and less sought-after recycling product.
The new bottles are made from HDPE, the same plastic as the old bottles. But recycling companies said the more complex packaging was having a number of detrimental effects on the industry.
"In terms of the value of the resource as a recyclable resource, they're less valuable. But they're more expensive and more resource-dependent to make, because they're using three different types of HDPE plastic to make those layers, so [the bottles are] heavy on resources and quite inherently wasteful," said a spokeswoman for Auckland recycling company Reclaim.