Could it be any easier?
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Deadly E.Coli detected in Oklahoma restaurant's tap water
After one man died and hundreds of others became ill after drinking E.coli tainted well water at an Oklahoma restaurant, the state is urging others with wells to switch to bottled water or municipal tap water.
The Tulsa World newspaper reported that the Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry have said that residents of Locust Grove, Okla., who rely on well water should take precautions to avoid ingesting the deadly bacteria.
The Tulsa World newspaper reported that the Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry have said that residents of Locust Grove, Okla., who rely on well water should take precautions to avoid ingesting the deadly bacteria.
Judge issues $1.26 billion judgment against PepsiCo in bottled water lawsuit
Did you hear about the harried PepsiCo secretary who failed to pass along important legal documents relating to a bottled water lawsuit to her boss?
Her oversight may cost the company $1.26 billion -- and we're betting the secretary's job -- after a judge issued a default judgment in that amount to two men who filed suit alleging that PepsiCo stole their idea for bottling water. The judge issued the summary judgment last month when PepsiCo failed to appear in court. PepsiCo is appealing the ruling.
Here, in a nutshell is what happened:
Her oversight may cost the company $1.26 billion -- and we're betting the secretary's job -- after a judge issued a default judgment in that amount to two men who filed suit alleging that PepsiCo stole their idea for bottling water. The judge issued the summary judgment last month when PepsiCo failed to appear in court. PepsiCo is appealing the ruling.
Here, in a nutshell is what happened:
Charles Joyce, of Juneau, Wis., and James Voigt, of Cleveland, Wis., sued PepsiCo in April, asking for a jury trial and damages of more than $75,000. Their lawyer, David Van Dyke, told The Associated Press the two had worked together and came up with the idea to bottle purified water in individual servings.Joyce's and Voigt's lawsuit accuses PepsiCo of misusing trade secrets. It also names Wis-Pak Inc. and Carolina Canners Inc., companies that make and distribute PepsiCo products, and Thomas M. Hiles, then the executive vice-president of Carolina Canners.
The pair claim they entered written confidentiality agreements about a new beverage they were calling "U.P." with executives of Wis-Pak and Carolina Canners in 1981. The executives violated the agreements and gave the information to PepsiCo, which eventually rolled out a bottled water brand - Aquafina - about a dozen years later, Joyce and Voigt claim.
PepsiCo said part of the problem was it was served the lawsuit in North Carolina, where it is incorporated, instead of Purchase, N.Y., where it is based. Later, a secretary who received letters relating to the case failed to act on them.Spokesman Joe Jacuzzi said PepsiCo wants to fight the claims but acknowledges it failed to respond because of "an internal process issue."
PepsiCo says it never knew anything about the case. Here's what it told the court on Oct. 13 when it asked the court to abandon the judgment.
-June 11: Stith&Stith, PepsiCo's law firm in North Carolina, is "allegedly" served with the complaint but the company gets no word.
-Sept. 15: Stith&Stith forwards a letter about the case to Tom Tamoney in PepsiCo's legal department, but his secretary, Kathy Henry, "was so busy preparing for a board meeting she did not deliver it to anyone" or tell anyone about it or enter it into a log that tracks such things, according to PepsiCo's court filing.
Despite the default judgment, it's likely that PepsiCo will get its day in court to defend against the $1.26 billion lawsuit, according to a law professor interviewed by The Associated Press.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Hello Kitty shilling for bottled water
Bottled water is a trend whose trendiness has long passed. Or so we thought, until we saw these horrible, horrible Hello Kitty water bottles, which apparently are available exclusively at 7 Eleven stores in Japan.
We hope that Japanese consumers and Hello Kitty collectors are smart enough to not buy these wasteful water bottles.
We hope that Japanese consumers and Hello Kitty collectors are smart enough to not buy these wasteful water bottles.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Bottled water versus tap
We've been lurking around the Web today, eavesdropping on arguments between bottled water proponents and environmentalists who've are pushing the tap water agenda.
Check out the the spirited debate over at Fake Plastic Fish regarding the new documentary Tapped.
Some of the most pointed comments are from the author of arduous blog and Tom Lauria of the International Bottled Water Association.
Check out the the spirited debate over at Fake Plastic Fish regarding the new documentary Tapped.
Some of the most pointed comments are from the author of arduous blog and Tom Lauria of the International Bottled Water Association.
Declining soda and bottled water sales hurt Coke's third quarter 2009 profits
Coca-Cola recorded only a slight profit for the third quarter, as it reported that North American sales of sodas and its Dasani-brand bottled water dipped 4 percent for the quarter.
As a result, Coke has increased its spending on advertising, marketing and packaging in North America, while also growing its business in emerging markets such as China and India.
Declining sales of Dasani, fueled by consumer backlash against bottled water for economic and environmental reasons, were a big drag on Coke's profits for the quarter.
According to coverage by the Wall Street Journal, "sales of Dasani brand water in North America were down by more than 19 percent. Sales of multipacks of Dasani, a popular packaging for water, were down even more."
As a result, Coke has increased its spending on advertising, marketing and packaging in North America, while also growing its business in emerging markets such as China and India.
Declining sales of Dasani, fueled by consumer backlash against bottled water for economic and environmental reasons, were a big drag on Coke's profits for the quarter.
According to coverage by the Wall Street Journal, "sales of Dasani brand water in North America were down by more than 19 percent. Sales of multipacks of Dasani, a popular packaging for water, were down even more."
What's In Your Tap Water?
Local governments are quick to assure the public that our drinking water is safe.
But how safe is it really?
If you want to see for yourself what contaminants are present in your tap water, check out this nifty Drinking Water Scorecard from the University of Cincinnatti.
While contaminant levels in our local water meet all EPA standards, the levels of lead, chlorine and chlorine byproducts are particularly concerning.
Lead can impact children's mental and physical development and can contribute to kidney and blood pressure problems in adults. Chlorine byproducts have been linked to an increased risk for cancer.
But, according ot the EPA, our drinking water is safe.
But how safe is it really?
If you want to see for yourself what contaminants are present in your tap water, check out this nifty Drinking Water Scorecard from the University of Cincinnatti.
Do you know what's in your drinking water? Did you know the drinking water quality, or the amount of contaminants, varies around the country? Click on your city below to investigate how your drinking water ranks versus other cities.The chart below is for the Greensboro-High Point-Winston-Salem metro area, where Primo Water is based. (Sorry for the quality. You can access the chart here.)
While contaminant levels in our local water meet all EPA standards, the levels of lead, chlorine and chlorine byproducts are particularly concerning.
Lead can impact children's mental and physical development and can contribute to kidney and blood pressure problems in adults. Chlorine byproducts have been linked to an increased risk for cancer.
But, according ot the EPA, our drinking water is safe.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Penn State environmental group calls for campus bottled water ban
An environmental group at Penn State is speaking out against bottled water.
Members of Environment, Ecology and Education in the College of Education "called on the university to end its contract with Aquafina, noting that the stuff in the bottle is not better than what comes out of the tap, costs too much and creates unwanted plastic waste," according to the Pocono Record.
The group asked students to sign a petition against bottled water and to rethink their own consumption of it.
We agree with their message that bottled water is a wasteful from an environmental standpoint. But we don't agree that drinking tap water is the only solution. Tap water has its own set of problems -- water quality being prime among them.
Saying that drinking tap water is the only alternative to bottled water is akin to abstinence-only sex education.
While the either-or message will resonate with some people, who will switch to tap water, there will be others who don't like the tap option. And they'll hop right back into bed with bottled water because they don't realize there's another alternative -- a water dispenser.
Members of Environment, Ecology and Education in the College of Education "called on the university to end its contract with Aquafina, noting that the stuff in the bottle is not better than what comes out of the tap, costs too much and creates unwanted plastic waste," according to the Pocono Record.
The group asked students to sign a petition against bottled water and to rethink their own consumption of it.
We agree with their message that bottled water is a wasteful from an environmental standpoint. But we don't agree that drinking tap water is the only solution. Tap water has its own set of problems -- water quality being prime among them.
Saying that drinking tap water is the only alternative to bottled water is akin to abstinence-only sex education.
While the either-or message will resonate with some people, who will switch to tap water, there will be others who don't like the tap option. And they'll hop right back into bed with bottled water because they don't realize there's another alternative -- a water dispenser.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Did you hear the one about bottled water?
From comedian Lizz Winstead:
"We buy bottled water every single day without thinking about it. Why? Because drinking tap water is more dangerous than doing Jell-O shots off of Courtney Love, that's why."
Funny and unfortunately probably true.
"We buy bottled water every single day without thinking about it. Why? Because drinking tap water is more dangerous than doing Jell-O shots off of Courtney Love, that's why."
Funny and unfortunately probably true.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day: Climate Change
Today is Blog Action Day, and more than 11,000 bloggers worldwide are participating by posting about the same topic -- climate change.
Day in and day out, the purpose of this blog is to highlight how one seemingly harmless habit -- drinking bottled water -- is having a huge impact on the environment. Americans' choice to consume bottled water leads to the consumption of 17 million barrels of oil annually. We throw away billions of plastic water bottles every year in landfills. Most bottled water is trucked across the country, compounding the environmental impact.
In so many ways, every time you lift a bottle of water to your lips, you're contributing to climate change.
What's the big deal about climate change? The Center for American Progress has a great article on all the things that are being affected by climate change/global warning. There's a long list of things that we'll lose if we don't take steps NOW to control climate change. And consider these facts and figures from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
We know that climate change is a complicated issue that can be overwhelming. With a problem as large in scope as climate change, it often feels like there's little that we as individuals can do to make a difference. But we're not powerless. Small changes do matter because they lead to bigger ones. And when individual changes are aggregated, they make a huge difference.
When 30 billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills every year, one family's choice to stop drinking bottled water doesn't really seem that significant. What does it matter that 1,000 fewer water bottles are consumed and thrown away as a result of that family's choice. 1,000 bottles seems is so small in the context of the billions that are consumed and throw away annually.
But that family, fortunately, is not alone in making a change. Every 45 seconds, someone in America switches from bottled water to a water cooler for their home. That saves 400 million bottles from the nation's landfills each year. That's almost half a billion bottles of water, and that's significant.
Small changes do add up, whether it's pledging to break free from bottled water, powering down your electronics when you're not using them, turning off the lights when you leave a room, buying a hybrid car, taking reusable bags to the store, choosing cloth diapers over disposable ones, buying organic produce, consolidating errands, walking or biking to work, replacing the light bulbs in your house with energy efficient ones...
The list of small changes we all can make goes on and on and on.
If we all make climate change a priority, we can make climate change a reality.
Day in and day out, the purpose of this blog is to highlight how one seemingly harmless habit -- drinking bottled water -- is having a huge impact on the environment. Americans' choice to consume bottled water leads to the consumption of 17 million barrels of oil annually. We throw away billions of plastic water bottles every year in landfills. Most bottled water is trucked across the country, compounding the environmental impact.
In so many ways, every time you lift a bottle of water to your lips, you're contributing to climate change.
What's the big deal about climate change? The Center for American Progress has a great article on all the things that are being affected by climate change/global warning. There's a long list of things that we'll lose if we don't take steps NOW to control climate change. And consider these facts and figures from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
We know that climate change is a complicated issue that can be overwhelming. With a problem as large in scope as climate change, it often feels like there's little that we as individuals can do to make a difference. But we're not powerless. Small changes do matter because they lead to bigger ones. And when individual changes are aggregated, they make a huge difference.
When 30 billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills every year, one family's choice to stop drinking bottled water doesn't really seem that significant. What does it matter that 1,000 fewer water bottles are consumed and thrown away as a result of that family's choice. 1,000 bottles seems is so small in the context of the billions that are consumed and throw away annually.
But that family, fortunately, is not alone in making a change. Every 45 seconds, someone in America switches from bottled water to a water cooler for their home. That saves 400 million bottles from the nation's landfills each year. That's almost half a billion bottles of water, and that's significant.
Small changes do add up, whether it's pledging to break free from bottled water, powering down your electronics when you're not using them, turning off the lights when you leave a room, buying a hybrid car, taking reusable bags to the store, choosing cloth diapers over disposable ones, buying organic produce, consolidating errands, walking or biking to work, replacing the light bulbs in your house with energy efficient ones...
The list of small changes we all can make goes on and on and on.
If we all make climate change a priority, we can make climate change a reality.
Did tap water at N.C. Marine base cause men to develop breast cancer?
Michael Partin was 39 years old when he was diagnosed with breast cancer, a disease that affects only 2,000 men in the U.S. every year. Partin believes that his rare cancer was caused by his exposure to contaminated tap water as an infant at Camp Lejeune Marine base in North Carolina.
At least 40 former U.S. Marines or sons of Marines who lived at Camp Lejeune have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
According to CNN:
It's quite likely that during the time they were drinking this contaminated water, the Marines, their families and base employees were told by the government that the tap water was safe. Clearly, such official assurances are not always true.
In two independent studies, the government found no link between the tap water contamination and the men's breast cancer, and experts have warned that showing cause and effect may be difficult. Meanwhile, North Carolina senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan are backing a bill that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover the medical costs of Marines and their families who were exposed to the contaminated water.
At least 40 former U.S. Marines or sons of Marines who lived at Camp Lejeune have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
According to CNN:
Partin said that during his mother's pregnancy, the family was exposed to high levels of tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, dichloroethylene, benzene and vinyl chloride in the tap water at the military base.For three decades, from the 1960s to the 1980s, Camp Lejeune's drinking water was contaminated with carcinogens, specifically "industrial solvents dumped by the Marines and a dry-cleaning business, investigators say," according to the St. Petersburg Times, which wrote about Partin earlier this summer. More than 1 million people living and working at Camp Lejeune were exposed to the contaminated tap water.
It's quite likely that during the time they were drinking this contaminated water, the Marines, their families and base employees were told by the government that the tap water was safe. Clearly, such official assurances are not always true.
In two independent studies, the government found no link between the tap water contamination and the men's breast cancer, and experts have warned that showing cause and effect may be difficult. Meanwhile, North Carolina senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan are backing a bill that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover the medical costs of Marines and their families who were exposed to the contaminated water.
Disturbing Fact: Americans consume 1,500 bottles of water every second
And we throw away 1,200 of them.
MSLK, a New York design agency, is artfully raising consciousness about plastic waste with Watershed, an art installation in New York.
Watershed is essentially a curtain of 1,500 empty plastic water bottles. The number is signficant because every second, Americans consume 1,500 bottles of water.
MSLK, a New York design agency, is artfully raising consciousness about plastic waste with Watershed, an art installation in New York.Watershed is essentially a curtain of 1,500 empty plastic water bottles. The number is signficant because every second, Americans consume 1,500 bottles of water.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
More creative recycling of water bottles
While it's no Plastiki, you have to applaud Micah Weiss's ingenuity in building a pontoon boat from hundreds of discarded water bottles.
He documents the process at Project rRaft and provides detailed instructions for other eco-minded do-it-yourselfers at Instructables.
He documents the process at Project rRaft and provides detailed instructions for other eco-minded do-it-yourselfers at Instructables.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Adventurer to Sail the Pacific in Catamaran Built from Thousands of Plastic Bottles
Always looking to highlight ingenious do-it-yourselfers and creative solutions to problems, the editors at ReadyMade magazine this month tackle the glut of plastic bottles that wind up in landfills every year.
They managed to find some people who are doing some creative, crafty and redeeming things with PET water bottles. We thought we'd highlight a few in the coming days and weeks since the ReadyMade article isn't available online.
Adventurer and environmental storyteller David de Rothschild, is using thousands of bottles to build a catamaran that he plans to sail across the Pacific. The 60-foot Plastiki is an amazing vessel, made completely from reclaimed plastic bottles. You can learn more about the Plastiki and follow de Rothschild's voyage here. (He should be setting sail later this year, following ocean tests of the vessel this month.) He'll also be tweeting the journey.
de Rothschild talks about the Plastiki and his expedition in this YouTube video.
They managed to find some people who are doing some creative, crafty and redeeming things with PET water bottles. We thought we'd highlight a few in the coming days and weeks since the ReadyMade article isn't available online.
Adventurer and environmental storyteller David de Rothschild, is using thousands of bottles to build a catamaran that he plans to sail across the Pacific. The 60-foot Plastiki is an amazing vessel, made completely from reclaimed plastic bottles. You can learn more about the Plastiki and follow de Rothschild's voyage here. (He should be setting sail later this year, following ocean tests of the vessel this month.) He'll also be tweeting the journey.
de Rothschild talks about the Plastiki and his expedition in this YouTube video.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
New York To Require Deposits on Bottled Water
Later this month, New York will begin requiring a 5-cent deposit on bottled water. New Yorkers already have to pay a deposit when they purchase sodas, carbonated beverages, wine coolers and beer. That deposit is refundable if they return the empty bottles and cans to a local store for recycling.
Consumer sentiments about the new law are mixed. Some resident believe the deposits will have a positive environmental impact because they will discourage people from trashing their empty water bottles. But others are bemoaning the fact that the new law will raise the price of a case of water by more than $2.
New York state, where some 2.5 billion bottles of water are sold annually, is one of only 11 states that requires deposits on bottled and canned beverages. It is one of only six states requiring deposits on bottled water. Connecticut just began requiring a 5-cent deposit on bottled water on Oct. 1.
Bottle bills usually dramatically improve recycling rates in the states where they are enacted. So, it's likely that New Yorkers will stop contributing to the steady stream of bottled water waste that winds up in landfills.
State officials are projecting an increase in recycling, according to an article on MPNnow.com:
Consumer sentiments about the new law are mixed. Some resident believe the deposits will have a positive environmental impact because they will discourage people from trashing their empty water bottles. But others are bemoaning the fact that the new law will raise the price of a case of water by more than $2.
New York state, where some 2.5 billion bottles of water are sold annually, is one of only 11 states that requires deposits on bottled and canned beverages. It is one of only six states requiring deposits on bottled water. Connecticut just began requiring a 5-cent deposit on bottled water on Oct. 1.
Bottle bills usually dramatically improve recycling rates in the states where they are enacted. So, it's likely that New Yorkers will stop contributing to the steady stream of bottled water waste that winds up in landfills.
State officials are projecting an increase in recycling, according to an article on MPNnow.com:
“Water is about 25 percent of the overall beverage market,” said Laura Haight, senior environmental associate for the New York Public Interest Research Group. “With the expansion, we’re capturing about 90 percent of the beverages we believe should have deposits on them.”
Earlier state laws required deposits on soda and other carbonated beverages, wine coolers and beer, with a study showing they raised aluminum can recycling from less than 20 percent to more than 80 percent.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Writer endorses tabletop water coolers
Home improvement writer June Koppang endorses tabletop water coolers as an eco-friendly alternative to bottled water.
I think it might be a good idea to buy a tabletop water cooler. It will save you money and it is eco friendly. There are too many plastic water bottles in the landfill, and with a water cooler you can help cut down the number of bottles that are thrown away. You can buy your water in bigger amounts, so you can cut down on the number of bottles that you throw away...Thanks, June, for taking up the cause!
I found the Primo Pioneer Tabletop Water Cooler that sells for $99.99. This tabletop water cooler dispenses both cold and hot water. It will hold the standard size bottles (3-5 gallon) which are not included. There is a safety tap for the hot water so that it is safe around a child. There is spill proof loading and there is no plastic taste. The base is 16.38" H x 11.63" W x 11.75" D, and it comes in white. This tabletop cooler will save a lot of extra plastic bottles from landing in the land fill. I think this tabletop cooler would be a great asset to have in your home or in your office.
Monday, October 5, 2009
E.Coli Found in Pennsylvania Town's Water
Residents of Barton, Pa., have been warned to boil their tap water before drinking it after the deadly bacteria e.coli was found in the water supply.
It's unclear at this point what caused the contamination, but excessive runoff from rain or a breakdown of the town's water treatment system are likely culprits.
Here's more information from the town's boil water advisory, as published in The Morning Times newspaper:
It's unclear at this point what caused the contamination, but excessive runoff from rain or a breakdown of the town's water treatment system are likely culprits.
Here's more information from the town's boil water advisory, as published in The Morning Times newspaper:
Fecal and e.coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal waste. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children and people with severely compromised immune systems,” the statement explains.The town's water supply is being treated with increased levels of chlorine to eradicate the e.coli, but it may be a week before it's "safe" for residents to drink their tap water again.
Minnesota town fined for water quality violations
The town of Motley, Minn., has been fined $17,500 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for water quality violations, according to newspaper reports.
The plant was tagged with 46 violations over a 2 1/2-year period from July 2006-December 2008
for "treating twice its permitted levels of total suspended solids and substances that contribute to biological oxygen demand, which resulted in plant overloading and algae problems."
Stories like this really make you question how safe tap water is.
The plant was tagged with 46 violations over a 2 1/2-year period from July 2006-December 2008
for "treating twice its permitted levels of total suspended solids and substances that contribute to biological oxygen demand, which resulted in plant overloading and algae problems."
Stories like this really make you question how safe tap water is.
Better Homes & Gardens Blogger Breaks Free from Bottled Water
Better Homes & Gardens editor and blogger Amanda Hyde took the Break Free pledge, and she's happy that she did.
Amanda writes about how she kicked her bottled water addiction with the help of a Primo Water dispenser for her home and a pair of reusable Nalgene bottles.
She reports that she's saving money while also saving the environment.
Are you ready to Break Free, too?
Amanda writes about how she kicked her bottled water addiction with the help of a Primo Water dispenser for her home and a pair of reusable Nalgene bottles.
She reports that she's saving money while also saving the environment.
Following the arrival of the water cooler, I went to Lowe’s to purchase the 5-gallon bottle and I picked up two Nalgene water bottles. For the past 2-1/2 weeks, I’ve been filling my water bottles with Primo Water before work, after a workout, and whenever I’m thirsty. It’s taken a little time to get used to preparing my own water bottles, but I’ve honestly come to love this product! It’s so easy to use and the water is refreshing and great-tasting. Plus, the stylish dispenser looks great in my kitchen!Great job, Amanda!
I’m also thrilled about the money I'm saving! I used to spend $10 each week for 12 bottled waters. It only cost me $14 to purchase Primo’s 5-gallon bottle and it will only cost $6.00 to refill it when the time comes.
Are you ready to Break Free, too?
Thursday, October 1, 2009
California County Bans Bottled Water and Water Coolers
It's tap water only for government employees in Sonoma County, California.
Elected officials there have banned bottled water and water coolers from county government buildings out of budget and environmental concerns. The move will save the local government $70,000 annually, according to local press coverage.
As in most places, Sonoma County has a glut of plastic bottles in its landfills. Only about 20 percent of plastic bottles are recycled; the rest are trashed, according to the newspaper.
While water dispensers are an environmentally responsible alternative to bottled water, Sonoma County supervisers voted to get rid of them, too, to save $45,000 annually, in cooler rental and water fees.
Elected officials there have banned bottled water and water coolers from county government buildings out of budget and environmental concerns. The move will save the local government $70,000 annually, according to local press coverage.
As in most places, Sonoma County has a glut of plastic bottles in its landfills. Only about 20 percent of plastic bottles are recycled; the rest are trashed, according to the newspaper.
While water dispensers are an environmentally responsible alternative to bottled water, Sonoma County supervisers voted to get rid of them, too, to save $45,000 annually, in cooler rental and water fees.
New laws taking effect Oct. 1 to impact bottled water drinkers
New laws taking effect today in several states will have an impact on bottled water drinkers.
Beginning today, residents of Connecticut will have to pay a 5 cent deposit on every bottle of water they buy. This extends the state's existing bottle bill, which requires consumers to pay a refundable deposit on beverage purchases.
Bottle bills, while they do generate revenues for states, also are aimed at improving recycling rates. Customers receive a refund only when they return their empty bottles to the store, where they are collected and recycled. By the end of the year, six states will require deposits on bottled water.
Here in North Carolina, Primo Water's home state, it's now illegal to throw plastic bottles and containers in the trash. We applaud the state's efforts to encourage mandatory recycling on plastic bottles, but we realize that enforcing this law will be difficult and perhaps even unpopular.
But it is so necessary. DigTriad reports that four of every five plastic containers are thrown away instead of recycled. According to the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, only 18 percent of plastic bottles used in the state are recycled. That's the height of environmental irresponsibility.
According to the city of Greensboro, if every plastic bottle used in the state were recycled, that would keep more than 2.4 billion plastic bottles from landfills annually.
The new law sends the message to residents that we can't keep throwing plastic into our landfills. Because of the number of plastic bottles that are trashed annually -- billions -- we're already facing huge environmental consequences for this wasteful behavior. The new law makes those consequences more immediate. Throw away plastic containers in North Carolina instead of recycling them and face a potential fine.
Actually, North Carolina residents don't have to worry about being fined for tossing an empty bottle in the trash instead of the recycling ban. But state inspectors will be looking for trash haulers who dump loads of plastic and other banned materials in landfills.
Here's more on enforcement of the new plastic bottle ban from Earth911:
Of course, laws like this would be moot if more people would take the pledge and Break Free from bottled water and reduce their overall consumption of plastic bottles and containers.
Beginning today, residents of Connecticut will have to pay a 5 cent deposit on every bottle of water they buy. This extends the state's existing bottle bill, which requires consumers to pay a refundable deposit on beverage purchases.
Bottle bills, while they do generate revenues for states, also are aimed at improving recycling rates. Customers receive a refund only when they return their empty bottles to the store, where they are collected and recycled. By the end of the year, six states will require deposits on bottled water.
Here in North Carolina, Primo Water's home state, it's now illegal to throw plastic bottles and containers in the trash. We applaud the state's efforts to encourage mandatory recycling on plastic bottles, but we realize that enforcing this law will be difficult and perhaps even unpopular.
But it is so necessary. DigTriad reports that four of every five plastic containers are thrown away instead of recycled. According to the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, only 18 percent of plastic bottles used in the state are recycled. That's the height of environmental irresponsibility.
According to the city of Greensboro, if every plastic bottle used in the state were recycled, that would keep more than 2.4 billion plastic bottles from landfills annually.
The new law sends the message to residents that we can't keep throwing plastic into our landfills. Because of the number of plastic bottles that are trashed annually -- billions -- we're already facing huge environmental consequences for this wasteful behavior. The new law makes those consequences more immediate. Throw away plastic containers in North Carolina instead of recycling them and face a potential fine.
Actually, North Carolina residents don't have to worry about being fined for tossing an empty bottle in the trash instead of the recycling ban. But state inspectors will be looking for trash haulers who dump loads of plastic and other banned materials in landfills.
Here's more on enforcement of the new plastic bottle ban from Earth911:
It’s not going to be a Big Brother law, but the best way to be in compliance with the law is to recycle plastic bottles,” says Scott Mouw, environmental supervisor for the North Carolina Department of the Environment and Natural Resources. “Everyone wants to do the right thing, and the right thing is to recycle.”While we don't believe that garbage cops should target individuals, we do hope that this new law will encourage more people to recycle plastics. Many municipalities in the state offer curbside recycling, making it so easy for residents to recycle. We'd also love to see more restaurants and public venues offer recycling bins alongside trash cans.
Of course, laws like this would be moot if more people would take the pledge and Break Free from bottled water and reduce their overall consumption of plastic bottles and containers.
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