New lightweight milk jug produced for Kroger in Lynchburg

LYNCHBURG (WSLS) A new milk jug made at Lynchburg's Westover Dairy will help reduce the amount of waste in the environment.

The jug weighs less and has several unique features including fill-level marks and a thumb pad for better handling. The jug holds the same amount of milk but is expected to save more than five million pounds of plastic a year.

Westover Dairy managers say this is something customers wanted.

"We're able to take 10 percent out of the landfill and we are able to have the same high quality support in the jug for our product. Out team worked together to implement it, install it and have it out on on the market. It's been out on the market since September and want to highlight it's a team that did that. We are local," said Eric Smarko, Site Leader and General Manager.

The jugs are being shipped to 92 Kroger stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and North and South Carolina. They will cost the same for customers.

In two years, all Kroger stores in the country will have the jugs on shelves.