The Alberta Dairy Council (ADC) is the trade association for the province's dairy processors - the companies that convert raw milk into finished dairy products. Chartered under the Societies Act of Alberta, the ADC represents thirteen dairy companies who collectively process 600 million litres of milk per year. This represents 99% of all the milk produced in Alberta.
The Milk Container Recycling Program was initiated in July 1999 and is funded by the three Alberta Dairy Council members who process and market fluid milk in the province: Parmalat Canada, Lucerne and Saputo Milk Division.
Parmalat is a global food processing and marketing organization. While it specializes in a variety of food products, its roots are in milk, and it is a market leader in several categories throughout the dairy case, primarily under the Parmalat and Beatrice brands. From its milk processing plant in Calgary, Parmalat's business is built on a reputation for freshness, quality and innovation.
Lucerne is a leading supplier of dairy and related food products in western Canada. It is the principal supplier to Canada Safeway and other leading food distributors. From its milk processing plant in Edmonton, Lucerne has a long history in Alberta, where Lucerne dairy products are synonymous with quality and freshness.
Saputo Milk Division is the dairy processing arm of Saputo Inc., one of North America's leading suppliers of dairy products, cheese and snack cakes. In Alberta, Saputo operates a major milk processing plant in Edmonton and its origins date back more than eighty years. The company markets a full line of fluid milk and cultured dairy products under the Dairyland brand.
As the voice for the dairy processing industry in Alberta, the ADC endeavors to:
- Provide a vehicle for liaison between dairy processors and other interested groups.
- Give consideration to and advancement of all matters tending towards the improvement of the dairy processing industry in Alberta.
- Liaise with all levels of government in matters of policy, procedure and legislation which will be beneficial to the dairy processing industry.
- Act as a vehicle to communicate with stakeholders in the dairy industry.
Membership is open to all those engaged in the processing of dairy products and whose company pays dues or fees to the Alberta Dairy Council. The Minister of Agriculture and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the province of Alberta are considered honorary Members of the Council.The program enables Alberta's dairy industry to support the voluntary collection and recycling of milk jugs and milk cartons. It's a unique collaboration between industry, municipalities and the provincial government, and it makes Alberta the North American leader in the stewardship of used milk containers.