Beijing - One of southern China's largest cities is considering disposing of milk banned from sale after the scandal of melamine contamination by recycling it in bricks, local media said on Tuesday.

Officials in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, came up with the idea after concerns that burying the milk or dumping into rivers could lead to soil or water contamination, the Nanfang Daily newspaper said.

The city government was researching a technique to use the milk for baking bricks in high-temperature kilns, the newspaper quoted food safety official Wang Fan as saying.

At least four infants have died and 53,000 others have been taken to hospital after consuming milk powder contaminated with melamine.

Tens of thousands of tons of milk and dairy products have been withdrawn from the market after high levels of melamine were also found in some fresh milk, long-life milk, yoghurt and sweets.

Melamine is used as a binding agent and coating for particle, fibre and laminated board in furniture. It is also used to make fertilizer. (dpa)