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

At some point over the last few decades, water bottles became de rigueur for anyone with the least pretensions toward being cool. The trend had (and continues to have) a direct relationship with our society’s current obsession with health. “Drink eight glasses of water a day!” “Stay hydrated!” These were the mantras of the 90s, and such commands continue to be popular in the 21st century. The result is a dizzying array of options for taking water with you wherever you go.

Bottled water has become a staple of American life, and many people will drink nothing but. Granted, the quality of tap water in the United States varies greatly by geographic area. Those individuals lucky enough to live in the Pacific Northwest, for example, are able to drink runoff water from the Cascade Mountains. This water is “soft,” meaning that it contains few or no minerals. As a result, the water from these mountains has a clear, light taste. Unfortunately, not everyone lives next door to a mountain range. Some areas of the country, such as Texas, often have “hard” water, or water with a high mineral content. Although hard water has not been proven to be detrimental to human health, it undeniably tastes a bit odd. As a result, many people in such areas prefer bottled water, and who can blame them?

When it comes to water bottles, the simplest option is to reuse the plastic bottles of bottled water. As previously mentioned, many people already purchase bottled water. It is offered by numerous brand names, including Kirkland, Fuji, Crystal Geyser, Pellegrino and many others. The bottles of any brand can be reused innumerable times, creating an instant water bottle. This approach works well in locations with drinkable tap water, but may not appeal to those in certain geographic areas. Also, it should be noted that it is difficult to effectively clean the bottles of bottled water. If they are not thoroughly cleaned with soap and water, bacteria can form and sicken the drinker.

Beyond the option of reusing plastic bottles, there is the option of the manufactured water bottle. These come in a plethora of styles, designs and colors, and they can cost anywhere from $5 to $30. Manufactured water bottles fall into two main categories: plastic and metal. For the past decade or so, the Nalgene water bottle has reigned supreme. This bottle comes in a variety of colors and has a large mouth, making it easy to fill and clean. The plastic loop connecting the lid to the bottle makes it popular with hikers, as it can be used to attach the bottle to a backpack. Other manufacturers of plastic water bottles include CamelBak, SIGG and Klean Kanteen.

However, the past year or two has seen a drop in the popularity of the Nalgene bottles. Some recent studies have shown that the plastic used to make these bottles may be toxic. Although there is, as yet, no consensus on this point, some people have decided that discretion is the better part of valor and traded in their plastic water bottles for metal models.

Metal water bottles have the advantage of being quite durable, and they are generally considered safe from the toxic risks of bpa plastic counterparts.

By: Victor Epand

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

Fuel Belt Crush Bottle Carrier

I come from a cycling background, and am used to using full size water bottles. I contacted Fuel Belt, after seeing one of their ads in a running magazine, and had them send me one of their Crush bottle carriers. Fuel belt crush purple

Sew A Water Bottle Carrier

Fabric water bottle carrier I’m trying to drink more water. In fact, I’m trying to get our whole family on board, carrying water bottles with us on weekend outings, avoiding our habitual Starbucks and Slurpee stops. 

Knit Your Way To A Water Bottle Holder

This knitting pattern is a really great idea for those who do a lot outdoors, go to the gym a lot, etc. This pattern is for a water bottle carrier. It will help to keep your water quite cool in it’s bottle. 

Sigg Brass Water Bottle: Is the inner liner safe?

Product Review: Sigg Metal Water Bottle  Nalgene Water Bottles, decoratively painted aluminum bottle

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for sweatpants, sweatshirts, outdoor gear, sports clothing, and model motorcycles. Click here when you want to find sweatpants, sweatshirts, outdoor gear, water bottles, and model motorcycles.

Technorati Tags: bottle, bottled, bpa, carriers, containers, drinkable, free, metal, plastic, reused, tap, versus, water