What can you do to still have a regular supply of pure water and not go wild on the plastic containers in the form of dozens of bottles of water it often comes in?

Concerned about the Environmental Impact of Bottled Water? Go Green with Bottled Water Delivery and Proactive Recycling

Learn How Bottled Water Delivery and Recycling Plastic Bottles Can Help the Environment

With all of the recent environmental concern about bottled water and recycling plastic bottles, you may be wondering how you can get the pure taste of bottled water that you love without impacting Mother Earth.

Bottled water delivery is one approach to greener living that consumers are taking advantage of more and more. The majority of the larger bottled water containers that are used in bottled water delivery services can be sanitized and reused, and when they can no longer be used, they can be recycled by the water delivery provider. Another approach is to go green by recycling plastic bottles from single-serve containers as well as encouraging friends and co-workers to recycle.

Going Green with Bottled Water Delivery

Throughout the United States many consumers and businesses are electing to purchase bottled drinking water instead of tap or well water, whether from the grocery store in single-serve containers or from a bottled water delivery service. The trend is clearly on the rise. A recent study of the bottled water industry indicates that U.S. bottled water sales and consumption continue to multiply at double digit rates as consumers and businesses increasingly choose bottled water as a beverage of choice

With this notable increase in bottled water sales has come increasing concern about the impact of plastic bottles on the environment.

Contrary to what the general public often believes, the bottled water industry was among the first to begin recycling plastic bottles. The industry was founded by utilizing the reusable container system of the Home and Office (HOD) delivery segment. The bottled water that is provided by bottled water delivery services typically comes in 3 or 5-gallon bottles that can be used by the consumer, then picked up by the water bottle provider, sanitized, sterilized, repackaged, and sent back to the consumer.

The exact number of times that these bottles can be reused varies, depending on where the bottles are stored and how much they are handled, but oftentimes they can be used for several years. These bottles can be delivered to your home or office and they can also be purchased at major retail locations.

Bottled water offers a healthy alternative to other beverages that container sugar and calories, and home and office bottled water delivery offers ease and convenience to consumers and businesses. The quality of product and service offerings in the marketplace differs significantly. Therefore, it is beneficial to the consumer to investigate any potential bottled water supplier with care. Bottled water delivery companies work hard to protect the environment, and urge those that enjoy their products to do the same.

Consumers’ Role in Going Green

The qualities spurring bottled water’s growth are clear.

Toxic BPA plastics are being replaced by safer alternatives such as PET plastic

Many consumers recognize it to be healthy and safe although some would still argue that it is not. The debate is still open. Some argue that tap water is safe and others claim it is not.

So, you may be wondering how you can continue to enjoy your favorite bottled water while lessening the impact on the environment. There are many actions we can take to reduce the amount of waste we generate or that we send to the landfill. Making recycling plastic bottles a habit and promoting recycling at home and in the office is a huge step towards going green. Challenge yourself, as well as your family and friends, to see how much waste you can reduce from your weekly curbside pickup.

Did you know that 100% of bottled water containers are recyclable, where facilities exist? Take advantage of your community’s recycling program, if one is available. For consumers that have recycling programs available through their municipality or locality, check your local phonebook to contact them and learn about recycling programs in your community and how to obtain the curbside recycling bins.

Recycling Programs

Recycling program guidelines differ depending on the area, so check with the local recycler regarding specific expectations and preparation of the materials. Here are some general guidelines:

• Separate caps, lids, or easily removable labels from the plastic prior to recycling plastic bottles.

• Rinse containers

• Step on the bottle or container to reduce its volume before placing it in your recycling container

If you are not currently using a bottled water delivery service, recycling should be encouraged away from home as well. To obtain specialized recycling bins that are made for the office, church, school or special events, contact your local recycler.

A note of caution – although it is tempting, refilling single-serve water bottles with tap water and reusing them repeatedly is not recommended due to potential sanitation concerns. Continually refilling these water bottles with tap water, without cleaning or sanitizing the bottles in between can introduce harmful bacteria to the water that should not be consumed. Recycling plastic bottles or using a bottled water delivery service that sanitizes bottles and then recycles them is a much better alternative for you, your family and the environment.

Conclusion

Amid concerns of the impact of bottled water on the environment, it is time to step up and take action to go green. There are several options that enable you to continue to enjoy the benefits of bottled water while lessening the impact it has on the environment. Taking advantage of a bottled water delivery service at home and in the office, as well as promoting and recycling plastic bottles, are two ways in which you can go green.

References

International Bottle Water Association Press Release dated April 13, 2006; http://www.bottledwater.org

By Joseph Silva Published  11/6/2007  Food & Drink , Environment

About the Author
Joseph Silva is the Director of Marketing for DS Waters. DS Waters is a bottled water manufacturer and distributor of Alhambra®, Belmont Springs®, Crystal Springs®, Hinckley Springs®, Kentwood Springs®, Sierra Springs®, and Sparkletts®. For more information on home or office water delivery, visit Water.com

Got Water?

When is the last time you bought bottled water? Why did you do that? You just paid a dollar for something that comes out of your tap for free. In the States, the water that comes out of the faucet is totally safe. Here, it is not. 

Water Filtration: Safe Drinking Water from Thin Air

Anyone who has ever tasted “plasticy” bottled water or chlorinated tap water will know that taste is the real test of any filtration system. Dewpointe claims that its water is more pure than anything you’ll get out of your tap

Contaminated Drinking Water in Our Schools

Roughly one of every five schools with its own water supply violated the Safe Drinking Water Act in the past decade, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency analyzed by the AP. In California’s farm belt, wells at some schools are so tainted with pesticides that students have taken to stuffing their backpacks with bottled water for fear of getting sick from the drinking fountain. 

Technorati Tags: containers, contaminated, drinking, filtration, plastic, recycling, safe, sanitation, sanitize, sanitizing, tap, water

Polywood outdoor furniture is attractive, durable and easy to maintain and is becoming more popular than regular light plastic furniture

Plastic versus Polywood: don’t know the difference? Well keep reading.

Plastic outdoor patio furniture

Plastic outdoor patio furniture that so many of us are accustomed to seeing at the local home improvement store or even at the local super market is lightweight.

It goes swimming every time the wind blows and is easily broken. You will find plastic outdoor furniture only available in white or green that I have seen. Did I mention that quite often it needs to be replaced every year due to the chalky film that develops after a couple of months in the hot sun?

Poly outdoor furniture

Poly outdoor furniture, on the other hand, is a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic which is made from recycled milk jugs, bottles and containers. The HDPE plastic is then formed into typical wood profiles that will later be cut, drilled and screwed into sustainable outdoor furniture, decking, and a variety of commercial uses that are built to last a lifetime. Poly outdoor furniture is weighty and will withstand the north wind blowing as the lightest adirondack chair is weighing in at about forty pounds.

There are now several poly lumber furniture manufacturers taking the outdoor patio furniture market by storm.

The company on the leading edge is Poly-Wood outdoor furniture which is a name brand for recycled poly lumber furniture. PolyWood outdoor furniture may cost you more initially however is a far wiser investment when you consider the longevity of the outdoor furniture and the virtually maintenance free qualities.

Poly-Wood outdoor furniture is backed by a manufacturers warranty which promises that it will not rust, split or splinter. PolyWood outdoor furniture uses commercial grade stainless steel with an additional ‘Xylan’ protective and cosmetic coating. All these features intentionally planned to create sustainable outdoor furniture built to last a lifetime.

Poly-Wood outdoor furniture is available in a wide variety of styles from the timeless Nautical collection to the Long Island and South Beach Collections, to the stylish Chippendale Collection and let me not forget the Adirondack Collection.

Adirondack

All of these collections will handsomely complement any outdoor environment. You will find the classic Adirondack chair in several styles and a minimum of six traditional colors and six bright, vivid colors. Also, you can find Traditional Benches, Rockers, Gliders, Dining and Bistro Tables, Dining Chairs and Bistro Chairs and Swings all made out of sustainable PolyWood outdoor furniture.

New styles and collections are being added each year. New this year is the Rockford Collection which features a high back vertical slat design available in three different size benches a Dining Side Chair and a Dining Arm Chair. Also, taking the market by storm is the Presidential Rocker Series the Jefferson Rocker and the Kennedy Rocker. Both available in the polywood we have come to trust.

In the end you need to decide whether you are interested in sustainable PolyWood heavy duty outdoor furniture for a lifetime of enjoyment that will withstand high winds and blazing sun. Or you can go with lightweight plastic furniture that will blow in the breeze, chalk and crack after a few years of use and then be tossed aside to further fill our overflowing landfills.

By Donna Reed. Donna Reed is an active environmentalist associated with Green Peace and the Sierra Club. Her focus on environmental issues has turned to the recycling industry and products that are made from recycled plastics. Polywood and Polywood Products save millions of pounds of plastic from landing in our ever growing landfills each year and have caught her eye with their environmentally friendly advantages! Donna is currently working with Premium Poly Patios to help make the public aware of the environmental benefits of this Eco-Friendly Furniture.

Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory

Check out these opther blog posts on recycled plastic furniture…

Polywood Patio Furniture

There has been a large surge in interest for patio furniture in the last few years. We are all trying to get a little bit more back to nature.

Recycled wood furniture

PolyWood Terrace Furniture offers these consumers an earth-friendly alternative to conventional area furnishings. PolyWood, a Dominating Denseness Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, is made from 100% recycled materials such as bottles 

Polywood wood-plastic patio furniture

Anyone looking for outdoor garden furniture should seriously consider polywood patio furniture. the fef quality of poly wood garden furniture is second to none. it is extremely durable and is becoming extremely popular.

Technorati Tags: Adirondack, bottles, collection, furniture, garden, outdoor, patio, plastic, Poly-Wood, recycled

In times of emergency we may realize that clean water is of prime importance

Then we start to look for places or containers to store it. It is here that we must be careful what we use.

How Not to Store Water

In an emergency survival situation, you may be tempted to store water in any available container.

However, when you can, plan for emergency water storage, your water storage options can be better defined. Let’s start with what not to store water in:

• Containers that can’t be sealed tightly
• Containers that can break, such as glass bottles
• Containers that have ever held any toxic substance
• Plastic milk cartons or bottles
• Hard plastic bottles made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol
• Used pre-packaged water bottles

Any containers that can not be sealed tightly are not a good choice for water storage as contaminants may easily enter the container. While glass bottles are easily cleaned and may seal well, their breakability and weight make them to be less desirable for emergency water storage use.

Obviously, you would not intentionally store water in any container that previously held a toxic substance. Such substances can not be adequately cleaned from the walls of the container. If you don’t know what was in a particular container – it should not be used. The biggest problem with plastic milk cartons is their inability to be resealed, plus they are difficult to clean and break down over time.

We now know that hard plastic bottles made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol, may leach BPA (Bisphenol A) and should not be used for water storage. The type of plastic bottle in which water is usually sold is generally a #1, and is recommended for one time use only. Do not refill these pre-packaged water bottles.

It is plastics made with BPA, used for example for baby bottles and plastic dishes that are used in the microwave that need to be avoided

Not all plastics are harmful however so it is a good idea to become aware of which ones are safe

Protect your world by making a plan for your home, business and school.

Choose the right emergency preparedness supplies

Safe plastics

• PET plastics: examples include some soft drink, water and sports  bottles and jam jars.They are not known to leach any toxic chemicals

• High density polyethylene or HDPE for short and Polypropylene are plastic containers used for water, juice, ketchup and milk bottles, margarine and yoghurt tubs, rubbish bags and grocery shopping bags.There is no evidence of these containers leaching any cancer causing chemicals

• Low-density polyethylene  such as frozen food bags is not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer

How to Store Water

Refill your emergency water storage container with tap water. You should dump and refill each container every 6 months to keep it fresh.

TIP: Using a garden hose to fill containers from an exterior hose bib can result in water that has a distinct plastic or rubbery taste. Instead, try using a potable water hose found at most RV service centers.

All public water supplies are already treated and should be free of harmful bacteria. However, as an additional precaution, it is recommended that you add 5-7 drops, about 1/8 teaspoon, of chlorine bleach per gallon of water stored. This precaution protects you against any lingering organisms in storage containers that may have been inadvertently missed during the cleaning process.

Water preserver Concentrate

You may also extend the storage life of your water by using a product called Water Preserver™ Concentrate.

This is a liquid additive that disinfects, preserves and extends the safe storage life of emergency drinking water. Water Preserver™ provides 5-year storage guaranteed for regular tap water or commercial bottled water. Water Preserver™ kills and prevents the re-growth of Coliform bacteria and other disease-causing microorganisms for 5 years, when used as directed. Water Preserver™ kills the pathogenic organisms responsible for typhoid, dysentery and other serious diseases, and also kills and prevents growth of yeast, mold, fungi and algae which also make water undrinkable.

Do not store your emergency water supply in the attic due to the potential for excessive floor loading (water weighs 8.3 lb/gallon) and leakage. Don’t stack containers over 2 high and secure them from falling over, especially in earthquake zones.

If possible, store emergency water in a cool dark place. To increase the shelf-life of water stored in translucent containers, group the containers together in dark plastic bags to keep out the light.

Store your water supply away from gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, or similar substances that give off vapors.

Recommended Water Storage Containers

Plastic water bottles are very convenient for carrying water around when we are on the go, as they don’t break if we drop them. However, it is worth paying attention to the type of plastic your water bottle is made of, to ensure that the chemicals in the plastic do not leach into the water. To be certain that you are choosing a bottle that does not leach chemicals, check the recycling symbol on the bottle. If it has a #1, #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a #5 PP (polypropylene), your bottle is fine.

Survival quantities of water can be purchased in small single-use packages including juice boxes and pouches. Such water is packaged with a 5 year shelf-life as approved by the U. S. Coast Guard. Larger quantities of water may be stored safely in approved containers such as 2 gallon plastic bags, 5 gallon containers or 55 gallon barrels. A key consideration with larger containers is the inability to move them or carry them very far once they are full.

Cleaning Water Storage Containers

Assuming you are using an approved storage container as noted above, follow the steps below to clean your container.

Step 1: Drain all water from your emergency storage container. Keep in mind, you do not have to throw this water away, it can be used to water plants, the lawn, or even give the dog a bath.

Step 2: Mix dish washing soap and clean water and pour into your storage container. Agitate the container so that the soap and water mixture hits all of the cracks and crevices and internal surfaces including the cap or pour spout.

Step 3: Thoroughly rinse your water storage container several times with clean tap water to remove any soap residue.

Step 4: Mix a solution of 4 cups water and 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach (with 5.25% – 6% sodium hypochlorite as an active ingredient) for every gallon of water your storage container holds.

WARNING: Do not use scented or “color safe” bleach products. Liquid bleach loses strength over time. If the bleach is a year old, double the amount to 2 tablespoons. Two year old bleach should not be used. Bleach should be stored out of direct sunlight and away from heat to avoid deterioration.

Step 5: Pour the bleach solution into the container and close the top of the container and shake it, roll it and swish the solution around in the container until it has been well rinsed Allow the solution to sit in the bottom of the container for at least thirty minutes. This solution will clean several containers.

Step 6: Open the container and pour the solution into the next container, assuming it is the same size. Repeat the rinsing action described in Step 5. When done, dispose of the bleach solution in a load of white laundry in your washing machine.

Step 7: Thoroughly rinse the container(s) several times with clean tap water. If any algae or discoloration is visible, do not reuse the container.

Dangers of Water Storage

If water is stored improperly (in heat, lid not tight, outside air comes in contact with the water, etc.), or if the freshness/expiration date is exceeded, the water may become contaminated.

Vapors from gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, paint or similar substances can permeate Polyethylene plastic containers (water, milk, and bleach bottles) and affect the water quality. Thick-walled polyethylene containers are significantly less permeable to such vapors.

Stored water may eventually develop a disagreeable appearance, taste, or odor. A lot of times people will refer to stored water “tasting flat.” This condition can generally be resolved by pouring the water from one container to another, back and forth about three or four times to aerate the water.

Public water agencies don’t chemically treat drinking water with the intent of keeping it preserved forever. While Chloramine is a good preservative, public drinking water is not designed to have a long shelf-life. When you pour water into a container, don’t assume it will last forever.

Author: Jim Serre

Copyright © 2009 GetReadyGear.com

Jim Serre has over 30 years of engineering, safety and corporate training experience. He is an Office of Emergency Services qualified Search & Rescue Unit member in two northern California counties. He has provided Emergency Training to thousands of citizens in neighborhoods, businesses and faith-based groups and is a certified instructor for FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team training. His knowledge of survival and preparedness skills make him uniquely qualified to design emergency kits that can save your life. For more emergency preparedness information see his website at www.getreadygear.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_780467_27.html

Protect your world by making a plan for your home, business and school.

Choose the right emergency preparedness supplies

Technorati Tags: bottles, buy, clear, container, containers, drink, drinking, empty, plastic, refilling, storage, used, water

For small businesses that offer bottled products, custom labels are needed to compete with the big boys. In the past, it wasn”t a big deal to apply labels on the container without the use of a bottle label applicator because the demand for bottles was light and manageable.

But then the demand for your product increased which led to more work and less time. So with the help of a bottle label machine you can apply more labels on the bottle with less time. Bottle labeling applicator is a revolutionary machine perfect for small business owner. You can get manual bottle labeler machine which is used to label wide range of bottles from a small pharmaceutical bottle to a large gallon jug. Features of Manual Bottle label applicator are easy to operate, light and portable and exact label placement.

Bottle Labelers are used to label water bottles or any other cylindrical objects. It is very easy to use a bottle labeler machine, simply insert the cylindrical container and press the foot switch. Once the foot switch is on, it will just take 4.5 per second to label a container.

Most water bottles are labeled in less than 2 seconds. As the process is very quick and simple, a user can remove the bottle and insert another in less than one minute. Once the rhythm is established bottles will be labeled very quickly. Many online stores provide a guarantee for bottle labeling machines. If you are not happy with their service you can return back their machine within a few weeks. Bottle labeling machines can label test tube size up to 1.5 gallon bottle. Label cylinders are 15″ length. If a person manually does label work, he may insert only 100 to 200 labels in water bottles within 1 hour. But if you use bottle labeling machine more than 1000 labels can be inserted in one hour.

Bottle labeling machines are suitable for labeling bottles of different shapes, sizes and material such as glass and plastic. There are various types of bottle labeling machine such as Wrap-Around, Top/Bottom and Front & Back Bottle labeling machine. Certain features of labeling machine are it is user friendly, constructed of stainless steel and aluminum alloy for rust-free performance.

A Label Dispenser is used to label Ampoules, Glass bottles, Pet bottles, Tins, Pouches, Cassettes, Floppy Disk, Square box, Containers, Syringes etc. Label applicator are used in various industries like food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care products, electronics, Health care, Agriculture, Pesticides, FMCG Distribution, logistics, handling etc.

Alex powell is an expert author, who is presently working on the site label dispenser He has written many articles in various topics. For more information about bottle label applicators. Visit our site bottle-labeler.com/

Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory

Technorati Tags: applicator, automatic, bottle, containers, label, labeler, labelers, labeling, labeller, labelling, maker, plastic, printer, water

Well, that may be over simplifying it, but containers go a long way when you have an organizing dilemma. Do not go out and just start buying containers thinking then you will be organized. Containers can become clutter too. Here are eleven tips to help you select and use the right container in your home.

Measure the space where you are going to put the container. Measure the height, width and depth. Make a note of the room you will use it in. When you go to the store remember to take these measurements with you. It is so exciting to see all the containers that stores offer you may forget why you are there and buy containers you don’t need.

Consider where it will be used and buy accordingly. If it is going to be out of site, in a storage room or in the garage buy the heavy duty containers rather than those purchased for their looks as well as for their purpose.

Buy containers that can be stacked on top of each other for storage. These would be heavy plastic, or they could be clear plastic bins if heavy items aren’t going to be stored in them.

If you are going to store items like food or water either at home as plastic water storage tanks, drinking water containers, or as an  office water cooler look on the bottom of the container where there is a number in a triangle. Plastic containers with #3 and above are safe to store food items in. Numbers 7 & 8 are best. A plastic container lower than a #3 will leak toxins.

>> Get A Top Drinking Water Filter System Here!

To store china or other breakable dishes use plastic padded containers. They come with dividers for cups as well. After putting the china in the containers then place in a hard plastic tub for extra protection if you plan on moving. The china containers cost about $20.00 for the round ones. There are also boxes ideal for square plates. They sell for about $30.00.

Glass containers are great for the kitchen as they don’t pit and discolor. Glass is not recommended for the bathroom in the tub/shower area because it is breakable.

Linens, quilts, or blankets should not be stored for a long period of time (Over one year) in plastic. There are cloth bags on the market for these items. Plastic sweats which can cause fabric to rot.

Baskets made of bamboo, or wicker are ideal to be used anywhere in the home as they are attractive and functional. They can be cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth. They can be used for magazines, books, crafts, to give as gifts or to package gifts in as part of the gift.

Containers for seasonal storage can be color coded. Red/green for Christmas, pink for Easter/spring, blue for snowmen/winter, red for summer/4th of July, orange/black for Halloween or Thanksgiving. It is easy to pick the right bin for the right holiday when the bins are color coded.

Cloth containers are ideal for clothing, if storing a valuable dress such as a wedding dress, formal or other type of clothing ties rather than a zipper are best as the zipper can rust and it can get on the clothing.

Use containers to organize all drawers from the bedroom to resource drawers. The purpose of containers is to contain-drawers will stay neat and tidy when there are limits to what can go in them and where the item is to stay.

Before buying any container look around your home and see if you can use containers in other ways than originally purchased. Such as; a jar for buttons, a tin that held mints for change in the car, the plastic zippered bag that sheets came in can be used for craft projects, let your imagination run wild. Do not buy a container just because it is cute or pretty. And don’t buy because it is on sale and you think you might be able to use it someday, unless you use it, it has the potential to just become more clutter.

Marilyn Bohn’s Bio

Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Organizer. Professionally she has been organizing homes and offices for over two years. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.

Marilyn invites you to visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips and interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing.

Originally published on SearchWarp.com for Marilyn Bohn Monday, April 07, 2008
Article Source: Eleven Tips to Know Before Buying a Container

Technorati Tags: container, containers, drinking water, office, plastic, storage, tanks, water, water cooler

Plastic water containers and glass bottles are a convenience we can continue to benefit from if we simply take good care of our environment by making sure we recycle everything.

With a little understanding of the issues involved, we can re-use or recycle most of the masses amount of waste we produce from plastic and glass and at the same time we can reduce costs, save energy, protect the environment and even create new jobs. Although waste awareness is on the increase, recycling rates are on the low side and many people are still unaware of just why recycling is so important.

Recycling Plastic Waste

According to Recoup (the UK’s leading authority on plastics waste management), every household uses approximately 373 plastic bottles a year of which 29 are recycled and yet recycling just one of these plastic bottles can save enough energy to light a 60 watt bulb for up to 6 hours. So why are we not recycling more plastic?

One of the main issues regarding the recycling of plastic is lack of opportunity to recycle. This is partly because plastic can be contaminated with other materials and the cost of processing this can outweigh the cost of producing more plastic so compared to other materials like glass and paper, there are fewer places to recycle plastic. However, plastic is lightweight and highly versatile and one way round this is to re-use plastic within the home.

There are many different types of plastic but most plastics fall into one of the following main types:

PET (Polyethylene terphthalate) – Fizzy drinks bottles and trays for convenience foods to put straight into the oven

HDPE (High density polyethylene) – Milk bottles and washing up liquid bottles

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) – Cling film, juice and water bottles, shampoo bottles

LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – Plastic bags

PP (Polypropylene) – Margarine tubs and microwavable meal containers

PS (Polystyrene) – Egg cartons, plastic cutlery and cups, yoghurt pots, meat and fish foam trays

Plastics are largely used for packaging and because they have a relatively short life span (they tend to be thrown away as soon as their contents are used), they represent a major waste problem. They are also generally non-degradable which means they can take a long time to decompose and break down. Landfill sites require more and more space due to the amount of plastic being disposed of and this is an area of concern, particularly as around 80% of plastic is disposed of in landfill sites with less than 10% currently being recycled (Environment Agency Report 2001).

Solutions are constantly being sought and although more and more supermarket chains and retailers are now issuing biodegradable plastic bags, this in itself can be a problem as many people might think that it is ok to just throw them away as they will eventually break down, which is not always the case. Some of these biodegradable bags rely on sunlight to break them down so if they are thrown away as part of household rubbish and end up in a landfill site, they will not degrade because there is no light.

What you can do to help…

Re-use plastic bags as much as possible – don’t throw them away

Buy products with very little packaging

Try to re-use plastic pots and tubs within the home, for example to store small items like buttons and screws and for germinating seeds or donate them to playgroups and schools for arts and crafts

Buy refillable products as much as possible

When purchasing fruit and vegetables at the supermarket, don’t put them into plastic bags – it isn’t necessary

Find out what plastic re-cycling facilities there are in your own area and use them, encourage your family and friends to do the same

Try to buy products made from plastic that has been recycled

Recycling Glass Waste

Glass is an inert substance and so is not directly harmful to the environment but it is not degradable either so if sent to a landfill site it will stay there indefinitely which is a real shame because glass is such an easy and very useful material which can be recycled over and over again without any loss to quality.

Recycling glass is easy for the consumer, particularly as the number of bottle banks and roadside collections of glass are increasing. By far the most common use for glass within the home is in the form of bottles and jars and this makes up around 80% of recycled glass.

When recycling your glass containers, bottle banks often require the glass to be separated according to colour, which in itself can be a barrier to recycling as the consumer has to put in a little more effort, but there are reasons for this. As you can imagine, it would be a mammoth not to mention expensive task to separate every bit of coloured from clear broken glass before processing so there are few facilities that can currently do this, which is why it is so important to separate them beforehand.

One of the issues with recycling glass in the UK is that the UK produces a large amount of clear glass and yet the amount of clear “cullet” produced (cullet is basically a collection of broken glass) is low in comparison to the amount of green cullet. One reason for this is that a lot of green bottles (wine for example) are imported leading to a surplus of green cullet and at the same time a lot of clear glass is exported in the form of spirits. Another is that a lot of people are still not recycling clear glass containers other than bottles and this reduces the amount of clear glass cullet available. However, on a positive note, mixed coloured glass waste can be used for the building of roads and in the construction industry so it is important to recycle ALL glass containers.

Contaminants like metal rings, paper labels, plastic etc. must be identified and removed from the glass before the glass can be turned into new containers and much of this is done using equipment like metal detectors, vacuums, crushers and also by plain old manual inspection.

What you can do to help…

Re use bottles and jars within the home

Where possible, return jars and bottles (milk bottles for example)

Before recycling glass rinse out all bottles and jars and remove any tops and metal rings etc. as these can damage the furnaces used to recycle the glass

Recycle all glass containers not just drinks bottles, this can include jars, medicine bottles, glass food containers and so on

Make sure when placing glass into a bottle bank that you put the right colour in the right bank

Making a difference

Surveys have shown that if recycling was made easier, more people would be willing to recycle. The fact is, it doesn’t take a lot of effort or time to recycle or re-use an item, only a little initiative, and yet it is one way we can be sure of making a real difference to the environment and the world in which we live.

Author: David McEvoy  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_McEvoy

For more information about waste removal and skip hire please come and visit our site skip hire preston

Start Recycling

Who hasn’t heard that recycling is one of the best ways to protect the environment? There are all sorts of benefits to recycling. Creating aluminum from ore requires 95% more energy than recycling aluminum. 

The benefits of recycling glass Recycling Ideas

While we are often told to recycle as much class as possible there are some rather startling and worrying statistics for many of us to consider.

Primary School goes eco-friendly

Pupils now realise some of the long term benefits of recycling such as a reduction in the need for landfill, the reduction of pressure on natural resources, the increase of exports and reduction of imports, a reduction in pollution.

Technorati Tags: bags, benefits of r, bottles, facts, glass recycling, how does glass recycling effect the environment, how does plastics recycling work, plastic, plastics, recycling, structural plastic recycling bins

How do you decide which type of reusable bottle you should use? The advantages and disadvantages of seven types of plastic, aluminum and stainless steel bottles will be compared to help you make an informed choice.

Features related to health, performance, environmental impact, and cost will be evaluated. Environmental impact will be assessed by considering the durability of the bottles and whether they are recyclable. The resin code (type of plastic) is identifiable by the number within the triangular symbol on the bottoms of plastic bottles.

Plastic #1

Most disposable water bottles are made of plastic #1 or PET. Some people try to reduce their plastic waste by washing them out and reusing them, but bottles made out of plastic #1 are not reusable.

A Canadian study found that 13% of the water bottles tested in an elementary school had bacterial levels (9% were found to have fecal coliforms) exceeding drinking water quality guidelines by the end of the school day. Bottles made of plastic #1 are not durable enough to withstand use, cleaning, and reuse without losing their integrity.

The compelling issue with these bottles is not whether they leach unwanted chemicals into the water, but that bacteria cannot be easily washed out of them. Long storage time on the shelf or in a warm garage or trunk does increase the likelihood of bacterial growth and may cause antimony to leach from the plastic. Contrary to urban legend, freezing bottled water does not increase the likelihood of leaching. These bottles are recyclable everywhere, and they should be recycled after a single use.

Plastic #3, #6, and #7

There are numerous reports that plastics #3, #6, and #7 leach unhealthful substances into drinks. Plastic #3 (PVC) leaches phthalates which have been shown to cause developmental and reproductive damage. Plastic #6 (polystyrene) leaches styrene which can cause nervous system effects and liver damage. Polycarbonate, one type of plastic #7 (other assorted types) from which the clear, brightly colored bottles are sometimes made, has been shown to leach Bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen.

Plastic #7 (polycarbonate only) is controversial. Two groups of technical experts studied it and came to differing conclusions. They agreed that BPA leaches into drinks at low levels, but one group said the levels were too low to cause any concern, and one group said that the levels were significant to human health. Polycarbonate has been banned by the Canadian government and is being re-reviewed by the USEPA.

There is a new type of plastic #7 that is BPA-free; whether it leaches other substances, not currently known to be hazardous, is yet to be seen. None of these three types of plastic is widely recyclable. Plastic #7 is durable, but like most plastic, will wear more quickly if exposed to heat in the dishwasher. Bottles made from plastic #7 cost between $8 and $12.

Plastics #2, #4, and #5

Plastics #2, #4, and #5 are the healthiest plastic bottle options since they are not known to leach. These plastic bottles do retain odors and stains and after repeated use, tend to leak if not held upright. This lack of durability makes them a poor choice for long term use, and they will not hold up well in the dishwasher.

Plastic #2 is commonly recyclable, but plastics #4 and 5 are not recyclable in many municipalities. Bottles made of these plastics are inexpensive, ranging from $5 to $10.

Aluminum

Aluminum bottles are lightweight and hip looking, and they keep drinks cooler longer and fresh tasting. Because aluminum is reactive with acidic liquids, aluminum bottles have to be lined with an enamel or epoxy layer that could become a problem with wear and tear. They are durable, but if you drop them, they may dent which may affect the efficacy of the liner within. The most popular aluminum bottles have very narrow necks making them difficult to clean, dry, and load with ice. They are not dishwasher safe. Aluminum bottles with certain types of lining are not recyclable. Aluminum bottles cost between $10 and $30.

Stainless Steel

Food-grade stainless steel bottles are lightweight and hip looking, and they keep drinks cooler longer and fresh tasting. There are no known safety issues; stainless steel is non-reactive so the bottles do not leach and do not have to be lined. Stainless steel water bottles are the best choice health-wise.

They are durable and can last for years, but if you drop them, they may dent. They are dishwasher safe, but will only get clean and dry if the opening is wide enough for easy water and air circulation. Stainless steel is recyclable in all communities that recycle. Stainless steel bottles cost between $10 and $30.

Recommendation

Stainless steel bottles are the best water bottles, but ANY reusable bottle, no matter where it comes from or what it is made of, is better for the planet than the manufacturing and shipping of disposable plastic bottles. Stainless steel bottles make a safe choice health-wise and have the best performance features. They also have a low long term impact on the environment because they are durable and are widely and cost effectively recycled.

A stainless steel bottle will easily pay for itself because it won’t need to be replaced for years. If you fill it up with tap water, rather than spending 17 to 75 cents for each disposable bottle of water in the grocery store, it will only take 2 weeks to 6 months to break even on your investment. So go out and get yourself a stainless steel bottle and fill it with tap water, filtered if you want, and know that you are consuming the healthiest, most cost-effective, and carbon-conscious drink under the sun.

Author: Lydia Chambers

The author, Lydia Chambers, is co-founder of Back2Tap, a social business that educates people about the wastefulness of disposable plastic bottles and bags and sells stainless steel bottles and fair-trade organic cotton bags through direct sales and through group fundraising online and in bulk. Graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Colorado, Lydia is a certified professional geologist who worked for Shell and Exxon in oil field development and contaminated site assessment and remediation. She has lead grassroots environmental campaigns to raise awareness about lawn pesticides, car idling, and bottled water. Currently, Lydia serves on her municipal Planning Board and Open Space Committee. Read more at: http://www.back2tap.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lydia_Chambers

Plastic: Practical or Problematic?

Concern that heat and cold might release certain chemicals within the plastic that seep into the contained and cause cancer. So are our water bottles safe, or not? While conclusions regarding the dangers of the soft … As far as the effects of heating and freezing are concerned, it is important to investigate safety precautions regarding plastic.

How to keep ice cold in the desert.

Freeze plastic bottles of water or canned drinks that are not carbonated, such as Hansen’s fruit juices. The frozen drinks will act as ice and will keep the other items in your cooler colder. You can also freeze water or other …  

Plastic Water Bottle Safety and Dioxin Myths and Truths

One of the email myths is that we get dioxin poisoning from drinking bottled water. The truth is that dioxin isn’t a major problem in plastics. There are very little if any dioxins in plastic water bottles. In addition, freezing actually works … If you heat up plastics and water bottles, you could increase the leaching of phthalates from the containers into water and food. Containers labeled “microwave safe” should have less leaching than other… 

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Drinking water filters are becoming increasingly popular, due in part to recent news reports about drugs and hormones in tap water, along with everything else that’s in there. But, if you currently drink bottled water, there are other good reasons to  buy an at-home drinking water filter.

News agencies throughout the United States and Canada have been raising questions about the safety and purity of bottled water since the year 2000. But it appears that consumers are not paying much attention. The sale of bottled water since that time has grown exponentially, from millions of gallons in 2000 to billions of gallons in 2006.

The economical and environmental impact of all of those bottles is huge. Scientists and environment experts from around the world are recommending drinking water filters as a less expensive, safer and more environmentally friendly alternative.

First of all, the fact is that most bottled water comes from a tap. A major bottled water company was recently required to remove the words “spring water” from its label, replacing the words with “purified drinking water”.

In other words,  with a good drinking water filter, you can make your own “bottled” water at home.

It costs less, tastes better and you can be confident in the purity.

It has been estimated that 80% of the plastic bottles used for water end up in the landfills, most of which are reaching capacity. If we do not stop throwing away all of those bottles, we are going to have to find new places to put our trash.

Some of the companies that sell drinking water filters also sell reusable glass bottles. You fill them up from your own faucet, with its new drinking water filter. When they are empty, you pop them in the dishwasher. When they’re clean, you fill them up again. The glass bottles typically come in packages of six, so you can store a six pack in the fridge and everyone will have fresh, chilled, pure drinking water.

Another problem with the plastic bottles is that it takes water to make them, six times the water that is in the bottle. It also takes oil to make them. The Pacific Institute estimates that in 2006, the production of plastic bottles for drinking water required 17 million barrels of oil.

Manufacturing the bottles produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming, further threatening our water supply. Additional carbon dioxide is released by the trucks, trains and ships used to transport the bottles from the manufacturer to the marketplace.

You can help by switching from bottled water to  a drinking water filter for your home . You might think that you alone cannot make a difference, but the estimate is that each of us is drinking about 22.6 gallons of water out of plastic bottles per year.

Since it takes water to make the bottles, each of us could save 135 gallons for the planet by switching. The bottom line is that drinking water filters protect the health of your family, while protecting and saving our natural resources. So, buy a good system and drink up.

By: Laurel Tevolitz

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Laurel Tevolitz is a dedicated researcher of critical issues that affect health and well-being.

Visit her water purification blog now at www.safewaterpurifier.com/pristinewater.htm to discover which water purification system she recommends after extensive research.

Choosing a water filtration system

ADVANTAGES. Cheap; Removes bacteria and other micro-organisms effectively. DISADVANTAGES. Concentrates metals; does not remove. fluoride; chlorine; metals; sediment. Related Tips Tap, bottled or filtered? Remineralize your water …  

Which water is best?

“The bottled water essentially was free of chlorine and fluoride,” said Rice. The filtered water doesn’t have any chlorine but does have almost the same amount of fluoride as the unfiltered tap water. 

Is this water corked?

Lets face it, most people don’t fef change their filters often enough as they are so expensive, so they are kidding themselves as to the quality of the “filtered” water. Consider also the number of those filters going to landfill. … Yes, it contains chlorine, but the most worrying additive is Fluoride. Flouride is industrial waste from the aluminium industry, one of the most toxic and reactive substances known, and is added to our water supply as a result …

Filtered Water Or tap Water? (Or Water On The Brain! A Short Video)

Technorati Tags: bottle, bottled, bottles, containers, coolers, dispenser, filtered water, plastic, purpose of, water

Here’s a really simple way to have pure, great tasting water wherever you go. It’s quite simple when you think about it, to have drinking water containers with their own built-in filter.

You are probably aware of the dangers of our drinking water, with over 2000 toxins being found in tap water in a recent study by the highly respected Ralph Nader Study Group. I’m serious, over 2000! This makes a serious case for using drinking water containers on the go.

This includes herbicides and pesticides and many other from industry and farming that seep into our water tables and into our water.

Home water filters

These can create long term health problems and you have probably heard many stories of water related disease outbreaks, which in some cases has lead to serious illnesses and even death.

We live in a highly industrialized society, with new chemicals being used and invented all the time, and the water companies simply can’t afford to make all our water safe as only a fraction of it is used for drinking.

Thus the case for new types of drinking water containers is an important one to consider. Just imagine being able to fill up wherever you are, and have the peace of mind that you are getting chemical free, great tasting water.
Traditional drinking water containers offer no protection against toxins and many are even made from cheap plastic which can add its own problems.

The new revolutionary drinking water container will not be your cheapest option but it’s well worth it. The high quality bottle will filter out around 99% of all contaminants, but still leave you with the valuable trace minerals, like calcium and magnesium.

In todays hectic and on the go society many of us turn to bottled water and pay a hefty premium for doing so. Bottled water is more expensive per gallon than gas! And by the way, it is no safer than your tap water and has less and sometimes no regulation applied to its quality.

And here’s another alarming fact. We Americans throw away over sixty million plastic bottles a day. If more and more people filled up at home by using a drinking water container we could substantially reduce this appalling figure, and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

Some food for thought there (or water for thought!), which I hope will inspire you a little to stop using bottled water and to fill up your own, wherever you find yourself, with pure, healthy, great tasting water as it should be.

By: Ray Hamilton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Ray Hamilton is a dedicated advocate and researcher of the incredible benefits of safe, clean, healthy water. Take a moment to visit his site now and discover which products Ray recommends after extensive research: www.healthy-filtered-water.com/

Kitchen And Housewares: PUR CRF-950Z 2 Stage Water Pitcher

If you’ve decided you need a home water purifier, the next step is to decide what type of contaminants you want to filter out or protect against. Are you concerned about bacteria and other microorganisms? Do you want to remove chemicals and compounds such as … Of the three most common water purification technologies, UV is the only one that effectively immobilizes bacteria. However, it does not remove sediments, chemicals and other contaminants. 

How Healthy Are You?  Water Softening For Safe Drinking Water

Boiling water before you drink it does kill the germs, but your body in that case does not benefit from the soluble minerals that are found in the water when it’s distilled. There are many ways in which … The zeolite component in the water filter cartridges helps to purify or soften the water. In tropical countries there is great need for water softening for prevention of water borne diseases which continue to wreck …

Inhaling Chlorine & Is Your Shower Water Safe?

Do I really need a shower filter? What can shower filters really remove? How do shower filters work? Take a minute to learn more about the dangers of chlorine in the shower and what shower filters can and can’t take out of your water. 

Technorati Tags: bottle, bottles, environment, filter, filtered, plastic, water

Bottled water is treated and safe drinking water that is packaged for consumption by individuals and made available at retail outlets. Bottled water could be sourced from glaciers, taps and springs.

The bottled water used can also be sourced from public water sources and the purity and safety depends largely on the regulation of quality adotped within a country. The regulation is conducted and recorded ensure that the bottled water quality is safe.

The label on the bottled water container or bottle accurately reflects bottle contents, or at least it is expected to. In many developing and under developed nations, these standards are variable and less stringent. This makes the safety of the bottled water for consumption questionable.

The bottled water companies are now dealing with criticism on consumer concerns about the environment. The process of packaging and shipping the water is known to consume energy and contribute to global warming. This is being questioned.

it is argued that the empty plastic bottles simply add to litter and solid waste. This is a growing concern and the fact that plastic is not entirely degradable is a concern.

However nowadays plastics are being recycled into various products and some of them quite fashionable.

It is also argued that the bottled water is no safer than the water that we source from the municipal water systems. The flaunted ‘added minerals’ is just a sales gimmick and the world over, authorities are urging supporters to consume less bottled water since home water filtration is a good enough viable option.

In developed countries, the demand for bottled water is based on the perception that bottled water is safer than local municipal water and people develop taste preferences. The whole packaging and advertising of the bottled water companies further foster these perceptions.

Local municipal water can still sometimes be suspect and contain contaminants.

Even though many municipalities, particularly in the developed world, provide quality and regulated water, there are occasional problems with contaminants present. The cities that claim to provide the citizens “safe” tap water also have on record contaminants like bacteria to heavy metals. This is another factor that continues to drive up bottled water sales annually.

In the case of the developing countries, the demand for bottled water is driven by factors like the lack of potable groundwater in many areas, the lack of reliable municipal water in urban areas and the risk of being exposed to chemical and organic pollution of ground water.

There is no doubt about the convenience of bottled water relative to boiling or otherwise treating accessible water.

However, bottled water may provide an alternative to unsafe drinking water only for those who can afford it.

The sales of bottled water has surpassed the sales of all other beverages, except carbonated soft drinks and the mint is rolling the dough for the bottled water companies even though the popularity of bottled water has been criticised by environmentalist, economists and care takers and givers.

It used to be that 80% of the used bottled water containers ended up in landfills. But more and more is being recycled as time goes on.

The damage is furthered with the fact that unlike tap water, bottled water uses up oil and other fossil fuels to be produced and shipped. It is further argued that this is basically a show of wasted money and there is no evidence of additonal rigourous filtering and cleansing processes being implemented.

The process of making the plastic bottles for the bottled water uses a large amount of oil per year and the manufacture of every ton of PET produces an alarming 3 tons of carbon dioxide! The bottled water is transported long distances by ship, truck or rail and hence consumes a fair amount of energy is utilized to move a single plastic bottle from where it is made, to the filling facility and then to the store. The average energy cost to make the plastic, fill and transport the bottle to the market is compared to ‘filling up a quarter of every bottle with oil’!

One idea might be to re-use bpa free plastic water containersby refilling with safe tap water where possible

The quantity of water used to manufacture and fill the bottled water bottles is a fraction of the amount of global water withdrawals, but the growing concern is within communities with large bottled water plants who are tapping into local aquifer resources. Large commercial bottlers are trying to meet the growing demand for bottled water by increasing the pumping of water from relatively smaller water bodies like springs on private properties. This could result in the drying up of these resources! As with most things moderation is advised

By Gaynor Borade

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More about water …

Water – The Worlds Most Precious Resource

It is no wonder that in this day and age bottled water is becoming more and more popular. Sure bottled water is convenient, but it is only as safe as its source. That same marketing has pushed the price of water – “sometimes … 

Metroland West Media Group, proudly serving Southern Ontario

Compare this to the insignificance of adapting away from bottled water, for them, back to municipal water.” Trustee Lillian Orban, who opposed the ban, questioned the safety of water in school fountains, which she’s found to be poor … 

Bottled Water: Clean or Dirty?

Currently, enforcement of standards ensures that bottled mineral water is distinct from other categories of water which undergo extensive treatments for potability (making it safe to drink). This absence of bactericidal measures and the … 

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