Time to challenge convenience and commit to 'precycling' our waste

CORY MORNINGSTAR (London Chapter)
The London Free Press
August 30, 2008

Recycling enormous amounts of plastic water bottles is not green. Yes, it is better than going to the landfill, but no, it is not green.

Bottled water contributes to vast amounts of pollution and climate change.
In an era when the world is dealing with the impacts of climate change, the bottled water industry requires massive amounts of precious and dwindling fossil fuels to manufacture.

The manufacturing of bottled water creates massive amounts of CO2 emissions and places great strains on aquifers. Aquifers and whole watersheds are under severe threat due to this practice. All of this is in the midst of an alarming global water crisis.

In India, whole river systems, such as the River Bhavani in Tamil Nadu state, have been sold to Coca-Cola even as the state is suffering the worst drought in living memory. As one company explains, water is now a "rationed necessity that may be taken by force."

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, bottled water has dire consequences on our lives, health and environment and on those most vulnerable. Yet most of this is hidden from view by way of careful branding and deceptive greenwashing practices.

The bottled water industry is growing at an annual rate of 20 per cent. Last year, nearly 100 billion litres of bottled water were sold around the world, most of it in non-renewable plastic.

Plastics recycling only minimally reduces the amount of virgin resources used to make plastics. Recycled plastic is a small percentage of what is manufactured and the amount is decreasing. Even those active in administering recycling programs recognize that plastics consumption is encouraged by recycling.

The notion that recycling is the answer produces only more illusions, not environmental sustainability. Outrageous levels of production and consumption are at the core of market economies and unless that process is confronted, little will change. Businesses and leaders have an opportunity and a responsibility to embrace this much-needed positive change.

The bottom line is there is no need for bottled water to be sold in a facility that provides us adequate access to municipal drinking water.
Bottled water is a habit that undermines the safety of tap water and commodifies a resource that's a public commons.

We must challenge the idea of convenience and make a commitment. As responsible global citizens we must work towards a zero waste, sustainable culture for the future of our planet and for future generations. Our children deserve nothing less.

Many state the solution is to ensure maximum recycling of the single-use water bottles. The true solution is to not produce them in the first place.

Consider what Nestle executive Jeff Caso has to say about their bottled water products: "We sell water, so we have to be clever."

Cory Morningstar is president of the London chapter of the Council of Canadians