 |
Seattle to Stop Buying Bottled Water |
12 Comments |
| By Chris Welch in Conservation, Green Politics | March 13, 2008 | ||
Seattle’s Mayor Nickels announced today that the city will no longer buy bottled water. This decision will help eliminate the garbage and also save on the city’s bottom line, to the tune of $58,000 a year. Water Bottles and the water cooler jugs will no longer be provided and people are encouraged to drink from the tap.
“It is to really highlight the fact that Seattle has one of the best municipal water supplies in the country,” said Marty McOmber, the mayor’s spokesman. “When you look at the cost of bottled water, both in terms of financial costs and costs on the environment, it’s a pretty clear choice that using city water is a much better choice.”
Nickels on the Thursday signed an executive order, which says that producing bottles for U.S. consumers required more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the fuel required to transport the bottles. Only one of 10 bottles is recycled, according to the city’s announcement.”
I’d suggest to the employees of the city to get one of these to take to work.
via: The Seattle Times
Loading ...
FlyNoMore said,
I could take one of those bottles you are plugging to work, or I could drink a glass of city water. Visited the link you recommended … note that their solution to “global warming” seems to be to fly to Hawaii … well, that’s gotta help global warming! Your advice does not persuade me of much other than that groovy green is merely a way to channel genuine environmental concern toward the same old same old … or perhaps you were just seduced, not sure yet ….
urbanmike said,
Water Cooler Jugs are an issue for a city that is responsible for delivering water to its residents. Why should the residents drink it if the city staff won’t?
A sound decision, ethically, environmentally, and financially.
Chris said,
FlyNoMore: By linking to the previous story, I was merely suggesting that employees of the city use the reusable water bottles to fill up from the tap, rather than buying bottled water and bringing it with them. To your point that GG is merely walking the line of the same old, I suggest you take a look around here a bit more and see what we are all about. We cover a wide range of ‘green’ issues and products. Thanks for commenting.
Karin said,
I live in New Jersey where it has recently been found that that tap water in many areas are polluted with pharmaceuticals and hormones (New Jersey is a BIG pharmaceutical state). Hence, although I’m greatly against waste from all these plastic water bottles, drinking tap water is hardly the solution. Instead, buying the large (really large, like 5 gallon) water jugs of spring water might be the “only” solution here. I wouldn’t risk my health for this.
FlyNoMore said,
Chris: Rather than buy a bottle from a company that promotes air travel as a solution to global warming, why not just re-fill a used plastic water bottle from the tap and and drink form this. You would then save on the energy used to produce, market, and transport the product you plugged. In my scenario, you would also not be made a slave to a company that plugs the illusion that one’s well-being depends on flying by jet to an environmental education event.
You suggest that I “take a look around here [GG] a bit more and see what we are all about”. Why not, lets take a look. I suggest we start with the issue I was addressing and you attempt to deflect by waving your hand at all the other good stuff going on at GG. I look forward to that, but for now the issue is this: is using air travel as a prize a good metaphor for promoting environmental eduction?
I don’t think it is. I think it gives people the impression that they will be better human beings if they can be one of the pampered few lucky enough (!?) to travel by jet. It does nothing to help promote low-energy technologies, such as walking or cycling, nor does it address the issue of the social inequity that must be maintained in order for the lucky (!) winners to continue to destroy the planet’s ecology.
I note that Ed Begley Jr. is known for arriving at Hollywood events on his bicycle. Good for him. Maybe he will understand what I am talking about, perhaps not. Will he will be riding to Hawaii?
Chris said,
FlyNoMore: I have no problem with people re-using a water bottle, you make good points. I meant no deflection from the issues you have brought up. You apparently have strong feelings on the obvious wastes and negatives effects of air travel, and I agree that using air travel as a prize for an environmental education is a bit hard to justify.
Tap Water Drinker said,
Bottled water corporations are changing the way we all think about water and convincing people that the only place to get clean, safe water is from a bottle. Municipal water is actually tested hundreds of times a month and is much more regulated than bottled water. Although there are exceptions, our tap water is consistently safe and clean, and among the best in the world. As the bottled water industry has grown, the political will to adequately fund public water systems has diminished.
I applaud Mayor Nickels in opting for tap water over bottled water in city departments, events and banquets. The Mayor’s decision is a significant step towards restoring public confidence in our public water system, while improving our democracy, our health and our environment.
Individuals can follow the Mayor’s lead by pledging to drink tap water over bottled here:
http://www.stopcorporateabusenow.org/campaign/think_outside_the_bottle_pledge?source=gc_seattle
~Tap water drinker
Nickels Proposes ‘Green Fee’ for Disposable Bags » GroovyGreen.com - Start Today :: Save Tomorrow said,
[...] and his decision to remove bottled water from the city of Seattle’s offices and events a while back, now Nickels and City Council President Richard Conlin have now proposed a “green fee” [...]
Karen | How to make tap water safe said,
Our city (San Francisco) has banned large supper market from using plastic bags. This is a huge impact on the environment also. I hope that soon it will follow Nickels step to cut down on plastic bottle waste too. Drink and refill from the tap, but filter it out before puring it in your body. Save money, save your health and save the earth!
Interview: Rachel Smith - Seattle Climate Action Now » GroovyGreen.com - Start Today :: Save Tomorrow said,
[...] Seattle Climate Action Now program explains the mission of the program and comments on the recent announcements of Seattle’s Mayor Nickels. Seattle Green Festival April 12, 2008.From the Seattle Action Now [...]
Melissa said,
Altho reusing a waterbottle sounds great, the type of plastic used for bottled waters are not /that great to be reusing, they’re only intended for single use. By being heated or cooled the plastic can leach toxins into your water. So what I suggest is buying a stainless steel or aluminum bottle and fill it at home from your tap (if you’re iffy about tap water, attach a Brita filter to it and voila!).
Rose said,
I agree with Melissa install a filter and drink up.
This way you know for sure the water you use has been filtered.
Do you know someone that buys a lot of bottled water?
Has this person ever thought about the places they go to that have soda fountains, coffee or soup ?
Where do these places get their water from?
Does this person bother to ask if the water the place is using is tap,filtered ,bottled or just place their order?