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Water we thinkin’?

About five years ago, it was typical to find me carrying a “disposable” plastic water bottle or two anywhere I went. Typically, no fewer than three empty or mostly empty bottles would be rolling around in my car. I really didn’t think much of the environmental impact because, hey, I recycled the bottles when I was done with them.

Unfortunately, that mindset ignores the irresponsible misuse of energy and resources needed to create and recreated the bottles, the waste of the non-recyclable caps and labels, and all of the energy and resources used to filter and bottle water into “single use” containers. Consider that according to the Pacific Institute, (in 2006) it takes about 3 liters of water to produce just 1 liter of bottled water.

Environmental pains aside, yesterday one of the headlines on my personalized homepage was “Bottled Water Has Contaminants Too.” Honestly, this did not surprise me. For years I’ve been hearing about how some bottled water is no better than tap water. I mean, isn’t it Dasani’s label that states that the water comes from a “public water source”? So much for Alpine springs! But still, it’s disconcerting to hear that a bottle of Sam’s Choice water might just have traces of Equate pain reliever and caffeine in it. Not cool.

So what’s a girl to do but filter her own and bottle it at home. But wait! If the water doesn’t kill me, then surely the bottle it’s in will! Fortunately I never got into using a Nalgene — I mostly just reused those “disposable” bottles — but still… Heck, even the Sigg has had its health concerns, but has since changed the lining in their bottles to something safer.

I don’t know, I’m thinking I might be giving Klean Kanteens for Kris — er — Christmas this year.
Regardless, I’m hoping that maybe articles like the one I stumbled on yesterday might just encourage us as a society to realize we always pay for convenience.

And maybe we can find better means of quenching our thirst.

Drink to that!

PS – No, this post wasn’t intended as a commercial for eSpring, but check out the website to learn about why I swear by eSpring as opposed to other water sources.

— other sources —
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Let’s do something drastic about plastic!

More and more I am becoming ultra-conscious of how much plastic I use and how much of it ends up in our trash can. At the “regular” grocery store, I’ve become more willing to stop by the deli counter where my fresh cheese & lunch meat is packaged in less plastic than the “convenience” pre-packaged goods in the refrigerator case. When the bagger asks if I want my milk in a bag, I’ll daringly say “no” — I’ll put it in my own reused bag in the car. When I have my act together (or am going to Aldi’s), I take my own bags to the grocery store.

I try not to throw plastic bags away. (The only time I do is if it’s been reused to dispose of kitty litter.) Still, I know I get more from the grocery store than I need, and at least once a month a wad of them hits the recycling bin.

I’ve decided I need to change that. Even recycling the flimsy plastic bags isn’t enough, though it helps. And there has to be a better way to take care of the cats than adding plastic to landfills. (I’m thinking this may be the best option.)

If you’re still using plastic grocery bags but think it’s no big deal, consider this.

Besides, a cute tote can be the best compliment to your “out-shopping ensemble.”