Transcript Say NØ to the BØttle! Cheryl Lassiter-Edwards, PhD Candidate Walden University PUBH 8165-1 Instructor: Dr.

Say NØ to the BØttle!
Cheryl Lassiter-Edwards, PhD Candidate
Walden University
PUBH 8165-1
Instructor: Dr. David Anderson
Spring Semester, 2012
Overview
 The Facts
 Why is this an issue?
 How did we become dependent upon bottled water?
 Why boycott the bottle?
 Safety and taste myths
 What are the alternatives to bottled water?
 How can I help?
 Questions
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The Facts and The Numbers
More than 90 colleges across the country are banning the use
of bottled water on their campuses.
WHY?
 Bottled water is a $22 billion dollar retail industry.
The average American consumes 167 bottles of water a year
– 8 glasses of water a day in bottled water would cost you
$1,400 compared to $0.49 using the tap (NY Times, 2007).
Source: Gunzelmann, D. (2008)
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The Facts: Tap or Bottle?
 24 million gallons of oil to make a billion plastic bottles.
 90% of the cost of bottled water is due to the bottle itself.
 38 million plastic bottles go to the dump per year in America.
– 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled
– Plastic bottles take more than 400 years
to begin composting
Photo Source: EPA, 2012
Source: Gunzelmann, D. (2008)
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Recycling Facts
 31 million tons of plastic waste were generated in 2010,
representing 12.4 percent of total Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW).
 In 2010, the United States generated almost 14 million tons of
plastics as containers and packaging, almost 11 million tons as
durable goods, such as appliances, and almost 7 million tons as
nondurable goods, for example plates and cups.
Only 8 percent of the total plastic waste
generated in 2010 was recovered for recycling
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2012
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Economic Facts
 Tap water may now be the equal of bottled water, but that
could change. The more the wealthy opt out of drinking tap
water, the less political support there will be for investing in
maintaining America’s public water supply. (New York Times, 2007)
 4,787 bottled waters could be filled with tap water for $2.10!
So every time you buy a bottle of water for $1, you are paying
2,279 times what you would if you filled that same bottle with
tap water. (Miller, 2010)
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The Environmental Health Issue
 Over 35 billion non-biodegradable plastic water bottles are
added to our landfills annually.
 Oil burned and greenhouse gasses emitted by the
transportation and manufacturing of bottled water.
Source: http://pureaquatech-mi.com/benefits.html
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Why Should You Care?
 Fact #1 :We “must have an end of life management
program for plastic.” (EPA, 2012)
 Fact # 2: Coca -Cola produces Dasani bottled water and
admitted it is tap water; similarly Pepsico’s Aquafina is
filtered tap water. (Datson, 2004)
 Fact # 3: Potential health risks from BPA. (Watson, 2012)
Source: EPA, 2012
Source: Datson, 2004
Source: Watson, 2012
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Why
Bottled
Celebrity
Endorsements
“Be Smart”
We are active
and on the run,
it’s “healthy chic”
25 to 30 percent of
the bottled water
sold in the U.S.
comes from a city's
or town's tap water “
(Take Back The Tap, 2007)
This is where the
bottles end up
Did you know it
takes more than
400 years to
decompose one
plastic bottle?
Not so fun?
Not so fit!
Sources: Retrieved from http://www.greenfudge.org/2012/04/05/fighting-dirty-bottled-water-battles-back/
Retrieved from http://www.shakeology.com/web/shakeology/the-blog
Retrieved from http://s3.amazonaws.com/post.good.is/EmbeddedImage/7835/org_dasaniAFP.jpg
Retrieved from http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/chap2.asp
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How Did We Become Dependent on Bottled Water?
 The Water Project describes how we became dependent upon
bottled water as being the result of “Manufactured Demand” (The
Water Project, 2011)
– Beverage companies saw consumption of soda decline so they
created the demand for bottled water by making people
believe tap water was bad for them
– Convenience
– Cost
– Taste
Sources:
The Water Project, 2011
Ward et al, 2009
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Did You Know?
The energy costs associated with making plastic bottles is
extreme:
–
Process the water; label; fill; seal the bottle; transport bottled
water for sale; Cool the bottled water before it ends up in your
gym bag or your car’s cup holder.
Two scientists estimate that just producing the plastic bottles for
bottled-water consumption worldwide uses 50 million barrels of
Oil annually—enough to supply total U.S. oil demand for 2.5 days
(West, 2012).
Source: West, 2012
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The “Life Cycle “of a Plastic Water Bottle
OIL
OIL
OIL
OIL
OIL
OIL
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Source: Take Back the Tap http://takebackthetapcornell.wordpress.com/faqs/
Eliminating Waste in Producing Bottled Water
While promoting an image of
health and vitality, bottled
water companies burn
millions of barrels of oil and
generate millions of tons of
greenhouse gasses in the
manufacturing, processing
and transporting of their
products.
An estimated 38 BILLION
non-biodegradable plastic
water bottles are tossed into
our landfills annually!
Source: Taylormade http://www.taylormadewater.com/water/point-of-use/
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Impact on the Environment
 Out of more than 50 billion bottles of
water used last year alone, more than 40
billion are in landfills
 Did you know it takes an average of 450
years for a plastic bottle to decompose?
Photo Source: Theen, A. 2012
Source: U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL
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Why Boycott Bottled Water for the TAP?




Reduces plastic waste.
Reduces our carbon footprint.
Saves money.
Expresses our support for our public
water system.
 The boycott of bottled water reinforces
our belief that water is a human right
available to all, and is not meant to be
bought and sold for profit.
Source: Teens Against the Privatization of Water
Photo Source:
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.
org/water/bottled/
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Is Tap Water Safe?
 The Safe Drinking Water Act governs the safety of the water
that comes from your tap.
 The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the main federal law
passed by Congress that ensures the quality of our drinking
water.
 Subsequent amendments to the law requires many actions to
protect the quality and safety of our drinking water and its
sources: rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water
wells.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Act (2012)
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What Is In The Water You Drink?
 Both bottled water and tap water have levels of various
minerals, chemical elements and contaminants.
An example:
 Arsenic is a chemical element that can occur naturally in the
underground water supplies we rely upon as a water resource.
Photo Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2039594_treat-arsenic-water.html
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What Is In The Water You Drink?
Tap Water: Regulated
 The EPA governs the levels of arsenic in our tap water and
require local and state governments to ensure that there
are no more than .010 parts per million (10 parts per
billion) to protect consumers served by public water
systems from the effects of long-term, chronic exposure to
arsenic.
Source: EPA Arsenic in Drinking Water
Photo Source: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/07/new_york_citys_4.php
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What Is In The Water You Drink?
Bottled Water: Recommendations
 In 2006 the FDA provided “non-binding
recommendations” to how much arsenic should be in
bottled water.
Responsibility of the bottler, not the government
 The FDA recommends:
 The allowable level established by FDA for arsenic in
bottled water is 10 micrograms (0.010 milligrams)
per liter of water.
Source: FDA (2011)
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Recycling Symbols
 #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene)
 #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene)
 #5 PP (polypropylene)
FINE
 The type of plastic bottle in which water is usually sold is a #1,
and is only recommended for one time use. Do not refill it
(Trusted.MD, 2007)
 The recycling resin identification code
Source: Trusted.MD Network , 2007
Source: EPA, 2012
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What is Bisphenol A, or BPA?
 Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a key component used in the
manufacture of a wide variety of plastic products
including plastic water bottles.
– The problem is that studies reveal BPA is a particularly dangerous toxin
that can interact with the body’s endocrine (hormone) system and pose
significant health risks to humans. (Watson, 2012)
 The Food and Drug Administration ruled in April, 2012
that they are not banning the use of BPA at this time but
will “pursue additional studies regarding its safety;
address ways to reduce the use of BPA; and seek public
opinion.”
Source: Watson, 2012
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Get Involved on Your Campus and Be Heard
 Support refilling your own container with tap water.
 Boycott the purchase of and selling of plastic water bottles
on your campus and in your personal life.
 Speak to your campus administrators and start your own
campaign like that of other colleges.
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What Can You Do?
“Take Back the Tap” on Your Campus
Source: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/
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It’s Your Choice
=
+
=
Photo Sources: http://www.shakeology.com/web/shakeology/the-blog
http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/chap2.asp
http://seachangesociety.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/seachange-at-healthy-living-healthy-planet-expo-sat-march-20th/
http://blog.epromos.com/category/eco-friendly-promos/
http://www.rohitn.com/green/green_save_water.aspx
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Questions
??
Photo Source: http://cupe.ca/environmental-issues/debates-benefits-public-tap-water
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References
Datson, T. (2004). Coca - Cola Admits That Dasani is Nothing But Tap Water. Common Dreams. Retrieved
from http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0304-04.htm
Environmental Health News (2009). Retrieved from http://ehsmanager.blogspot.com/2009/07/bottledwater-safe-who-knows.html
Environmental Protection Agency (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/plastics.htm
EPA Arsenic in Drinking Water (2012). Retrieved from
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/arsenic/index.cfm
EPA Safe Drinking Water Act (2012). Retrieved from
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/index.cfm
FDA (2011). Guidance for Industry: Bottled Water: Arsenic; Small Entity Compliance Guide Retrieved from
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/Chemical
ContaminantsandPesticides/ucm151384.htm
Food and Water Watch, (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/
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References
Gunzelmann, D. (2008). Plastic Bottle Facts Make You Think Before You Drink. Retrieved from
http://greenupgrader.com/3258/plastic-bottle-facts-make-you-think-before-you-drink/
Miller, (2010). The true cost of water. Retrieved from http://20somethingfinance.com/bottled-waterversus-tap-water/
New York Times (2007). In Praise of Tap Water. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/opinion/01wed2.html
North Burnett Regional Council (2102). Retrieved from http://www.northburnett.qld.gov.au/?id=22
Take Back the Tap (2008). Retrieved from http://takebackthetapcornell.wordpress.com/faqs/
Teens Against the Privatization of water Retrieved from http://www.main.tapthatwater.org/why
The Water Project (2010). The story of bottled water. Retrieved from
http://thewaterproject.org/bottled_water.asp?gclid=CKTG4Kem6q8CFUJo4Aod6UIKzw
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References
Theen, A, (2012). Ivy Colleges Shunning Bottled Water Jab at $22 Billion Industry. Bloomberg. Retrieved
from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-07/ivy-colleges-shunning-bottled-water-jab-at22-billion-industry.html
Trusted.MD Network, (2007) Which plastic water bottles don't leach chemicals? Retrieved from
http://trusted.md/blog/vreni_gurd/2007/03/29/plastic_water_bottles#ixzz1u6gM7T2j
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2012). Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application.
Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm
U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, (n.d.) Sarasota, FL Retrieved from
http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/coastal/trash/documents/marine_debris.pdf
Ward, L., Cain, O., Mullally, R., Holliday, K., Wernham, A., Baillie, P. & Greenfield, S. (2009). Health
beliefs about bottled water: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 9196-204.
Watson, B. (2012). Toxins in Your Water Bottle. Retrieved http://www.brendawatson.com/in-thenews/whats-hot/ToxicBottles
West, L. (2012). How Much Energy Does It Take to Make Bottled Water? Bottled Water Sales are Up, and
So is the Energy Needed to Quench Our Thirst. Retrieved from
http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/bottled_water.htm
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