Americans drinks close to 42 gallons of water per person each year from single use plastic bottles. The problem is that only 30% of these bottles are recycled and it takes three times the amount of water to make a plastic bottle than the water they hold. According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic beverage bottles are the third most common item washed up on beaches.
Because consumers are worried about the quality of their tap water and they are cutting back on sugary drinks, bottled water is now the number one drink in the US. All that water drinking, a good healthy habit, is causing a major ecological mess, littering the landscape, piling up in landfills, and clogging waterways.
Companies are trying to develop plastic bottles with a higher content of recycled material and phase in packaging that is more likely to be recycled, composted or biodegrade. Some water brands are even offering paper-based cartons.
Though it is unwise to reuse single-use plastic bottles there is much you can do to cut down on waste. Use a reusable bottle. Refill water at refilling stops, often coupled with water fountains in many towns and cities. Check with your municipal water authority to see if your home tap water is safe to drink and make tap water your go-to water source.
