The hidden costs of bottled water
Are you a tap-water drinker or a bottled-water drinker?
If you’re a bottled-water drinker, you might consider changing your ways and helping create a healthier environment — and a fatter wallet.
Clean Up Australia Chairman Ian Kiernan says it’s time for people to realise they’re spending around $2.50 for a litre of water that costs less than one cent when it comes out of a tap.
“Bottled water also has an environmental cost. If people used a refillable bottle instead of buying a new one every time they wanted a drink of water, then we would help to reduce the huge amount greenhouse gases created in making and transporting them,” he said.
“Australia uses more than 300,000 barrels of oil a year to make PET bottles for bottled water. Of the 118,000 tonnes of plastic drink bottles Australians buy in one year only 35 per cent are recycled. The 76,700 tonnes left behind either go to landfill or end up in our environment as rubbish.”
Mr Kiernan is calling on people across the nation to join together to remove plastic bottles and other rubbish from our environment.
“Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, 2 March, will be a focus for community action to address not just the growing problem of plastic bottle rubbish but greenhouse gas pollution as well,” he said.
People young and old are being urged to register as a volunteer so that they can join in on the day and make a difference in Ballina Shire.
“It’s not too late to get involved,” said Paul Hickey, General Manager. “Just turn up at a nominated site on the day with gloves, a hat, sturdy shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen and register as a volunteer.”
Clean Up meeting points in Ballina include Pop Denison Park at Shaws Bay from 8am until noon, and the pine forest off Central Avenue, East Ballina (between Manly and Cogee streets), from 8am until 11m.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
