Looking for a simple way to save the planet? There are all sorts of quick changes we can make in our households to increase our sustainable practices and reduce our carbon footprint. One such fix is losing water bottles.
I have three sons, two of whom are VERY involved in sports. Grabbing a water bottle out of the refrigerator as we’re dashing off to a practice (Are we ever on time? EVER?!) is such an easy thing to do in an always-hectic day, but avoiding that habit makes a big change in our footprint.
In the United States 35 billion water bottles are thrown away each year, and only 12% are recycled.
The Stats
In the United States, 60 million empty water bottles are thrown away every DAY! That makes for a whopping 35 billion bottles thrown out each year, and only 12% of those are recycled. Most of the unused plastic is ending up in landfills and in the ocean. Scientists at Ghent University in Belgium recently discovered that seafood lovers may consume up to 11,000 tiny pieces of plastic each year along with their fish and chips…yikes! And this doesn’t even get into the whole issue of the energy that is used in producing those water bottles and in driving them to stores all over the country.
The Fix
So what do we do? We use refillable water bottles. Buy a few, fill them and have them ready in the refrigerator so they’re just as easy to grab as the plastic we’ve grown dependent upon. It’s an added step or two, but one that we can all feel better about taking.
Have trouble with your water quality? Get a filtration system. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and price-points to fit any budget and accommodate any household space. And frankly, the filtered water is going to be a lot better for you and your family then the plastic-leached water that the bottle you would buy can offer.
In short, do yourself, your family, and your planet a HUGE favor and lose the bottles. It’s a quick fix that has a mighty impact!