Water fountain by Globaltap provides free, clean drinking water and has a bottle filler (Image: Globaltap)
A recent experience made me reconsider the convenience of bottled water — forever. I spent the day riding my bike through lush green forests in Northern California far away from the city. For over two hours I pedaled through dense thickets without seeing another person. About halfway through my adventure, I stumbled upon a tucked away pool filled by a 20-foot high waterfall. I yearned for my camera. I wanted to capture the contrasting emerald greens of the leaves, the sapphire water, the slick chocolate-colored rocks and the gloomy thunderheads overtaking the sky.
Not so disposable now, are you?
Yet, as the initial awe began to wear off, I noticed that this pristine wilderness glittered. It sparkled not because of rain or dew left over from the morning’s drizzle, but because of litter. Hundreds of plastic bottles lay half-hidden either in the mud, intertwined with the plants, or floating in the dreamlike pool!
As I started to pick up as many bottles as my arms could hold, I realized that almost all of this litter was one-time use water bottles. I still can’t get the image out of my head!
Plastic water bottles are a global problem
We in the U.S. use 1500 non-reusable water bottles per second. Less than 20% of plastic bottles are actually recycled, even though we have the infrastructure to recycle 100%. Sometimes it’s hard to find a water fountain or a recycling bin. However, I cannot understand how someone could walk or bike for over an hour to a truly breathtaking spot and leave such trash behind!
Maybe there is some hope
The Globaltap water fountain has a spout for filling reusable water bottles (Image: Globaltap)
San Francisco has a proposal requiring new water fountains to include a special bottle-filling tap. Proponents believe that this is the first step in weaning people off of the habit of grabbing a new bottle of water every time they get thirsty.
This new tap aims to solve problems associated with traditional water fountains, like not being so friendly to reusable water bottles because of their low arc. Also, the fears of germs from the spout (which experts believe are unfounded) have deterred some from using them as well.
What do you think?
Before yesterday, I probably would have agreed with the critics who claim that such taps are not necessary and that such legislation will hinder the growth of local businesses. However, I now believe the status quo is not good enough. Even though my friends and I all are eco-geeks and love using our reusable bottles, and there’s so much attention being paid to water bottle pollution in the press these days, lots of people still choose not to.
Plastic bottles are trashing places miles away from development. So a bottle filler fountain that can signal to the mainstream that this is the new, acceptable way of doing things, seems like a great step in the right direction.
Do you use reusable water bottles? What do you think is the solution to this problem? Do you think the proposal in San Francisco should be approved?
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Thank-you for this great post Miranda. Love hearing how San Fran continues to lead the way in many of its sustainable initiatives – especially for a major city. It shows is can be done and YES I believe the proposal should be approved!!
It is so sad that such a pristine place that you came upon was marred by such an offensive sight as plastic water bottles. They are a plague! People are so disconnected that it is frightening. I now keep the “cage” on my mntn bike to pick up empties which I see without fail each time I head out for a ride. I even shove some of them in my Camelbak if I can.
Plastic water bottles are the bane of my existence and each time I see someone at the grocery store with packages of the bottles stacked in their cart I just want to scream. I wonder if it is going to take a bold move by one of the grocery retailers like Whole Foods or more locally in CO, Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers to stop carrying them all together.
Maybe getting them out of the consumer “stream” will help to get them out of Nature’s streams!!
I agree with all of the great comments, ideas and actions you and the other Waste Watchers are taking! I reuse bottles many times, on the rare occasion I have one. It’s not just the bottles, but the caps too…. from water bottles and all sorts of other items that have plastic tops (milk, detergent, etc). Most of them end up in the waste stream. Apparently even those left on bottles that are put into recycle bins get thrown away. I was happy to learn that Aveda has a program where they take all the caps and recycle/repurpose them. In the last 2 years, I have collected thousands of caps, from my own household, plus from friends and family, and given them to a teacher friend who participates in this program.
From the website http://www.aveda.com/cms/discover_aveda/bethechange/popup_caps.tmpl: “In partnership with community schools, preschool through 12th grade, we have built a recycling program for plastic bottle caps. Aveda has been able to work closely with our suppliers to develop ways to make new caps from the recycled caps We currently incorporate caps into our professional hair care line and will continue to incorporate recycled caps into future Aveda products.”
Hope this inspires an additional perspective on waste reduction. Thanks, Ilene
Ilene – it is so great to hear that Aveda is doing something with all of these discarded caps! They are everywhere – even is some of the most remote areas and being fed to young Albatrosses as food coming from the Pacific Garbage Patch and the like…
Here’s an eye opener when you are sadly able to see the contents of a birds stomach!
http://animal.discovery.com/birds/ocean-gyre-birds/albatross-ocean-gyre-birds-pictures-03.html
Oh my goodness! I know I have seen this picture before (or one similar to it) and it still is shocking how something as little as a bottle cap can do so much damage to wildlife. It’s a good reminder for people to be mindful of recycling these caps (and using fewer bottles in the first place!).
Thanks for the picture, Barbara.Hopefully, more companies like Aveda will start to collect bottle caps as well so fewer birds end up with stomachs full of plastic.
It is amazing how easily the caps could be overlooked but what a difference it makes when companies reuse them. I think partnering with schools is a great way to educate students about the waste problems impacting this country. Also, the are aiming for zero waste by 2020 and piloting programs in Colorado, my home state! So for all of you followers who love Aveda products and live in the Rocky Mountain State, show your support for their initiative and recycle your bottles and caps (here’s the link for more information: http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/aveda-aims-for-zero-waste-pilots-packaging-take-back-program-in-colorado.html).
Its good to know companies such as Aveda exist and strive for zero waste. In today’s world, it’s hard to be both a waste hater and a beauty care junkie and I constantly find myself struggling to find a way to balance both. But companies like Aveda make it easier to see that there are ways to have it all-beauty and Eco-consciousness!
Thanks Ilene for your comment.
Thanks Barbara for your response! I too have started to carry a backpack to pick up plastic bottles as well as other trash that people near the trails. It always amazing me that I sometimes my backpack is completely filled less than halfway through my hike or ride.
In terms of figuring out a lasting solution, I agree that eco-conscious business need to start phasing out distribution of plastic water bottles. Hopefully, other cities invest in similar water bottle fill up stations like San Francisco to encourage people to reuse their water bottles. However, it still puzzles me why people continue to buy water bottles when data shows that plastic particulates leach into the water, tap water is just as safe and healthy to drink, and it is expensive!
I also thought that perhaps putting a sign saying “please do not litter” and a trash/recycling bin near areas like the waterfall I stumbled upon may help limit the amount of trash scattered about.
I really like that idea of getting water bottles out of the consumer stream will keep them out of nature’s stream-very visual! Maybe that is a way to illustrate the problem.
Again, thanks for the comment.
Brilliant idea. It’s so often difficult to fill one’s own water bottle. Investing in a reusable plastic bottle is the best investment you can ever make and those who drink out of single-use bottles are not only encouraging the needless use of plastic that often ends up as litter but also are being hoodwinked by those selling the water they contain!
Ed. Note: Zilch is a not for profit in UK that promotes anti-littering. Check out their site!
How awesome! Is Zilch based in London? Has that idea of 3 bins-recycling, composting, and trash-made appearances in the greater society? How is Zilch steering consumers away from littering?
Miranda,
Thank you for writing about the proposal to refill water bottle fountains. I haven’t heard or seen this proposal until now. The amount of waste created by plastic water bottles is astounding. Therefore, I believe that this proposal should be passed hands down.
It’s interesting to hear that many people are swayed by the cleanliness of the fountains when drinking fountains have existed and have been used across the country for decades. Therefore, I propose that if the state of California really wants to implement these fountains, then an alternative mechanism to ensure the cleanliness of the spout must be found. One tactic would be to use a small, secure Ultraviolet radiation light to sterilize the spout of the fountain. This could possibly be run by a solar panel. Then, there would be much less worry about contamination, while still keeping sustainability as a priority. Of course the UV light and solar panel would have to be in an enclosed and protected space, but that could be thought of further down the road.
Moreover, to reduce plastic water bottle use, companies should sell water in a grocery store in Sigg-like bottles. This could be marketed to people on the go who perhaps left their reusable water bottles at home. It would provide them with the product they need and in a more sustainable manner. If more companies such as AquaFina or Poland Springs began to produce reusable bottles (that are filled with water) along with their plastic water bottles, then hopefully more people would look at them side by side in the super market and choose to go for the greener route.
Then, the new fountains would receive more use, there would be less plastic consumption, and everyone receives fresh, clean water throughout the state at the push of a button. This would be an ideal and hypothetical scenario, but hopefully it can actually occur one day.
Hi Katie,
I think the idea for UV radiation sanitization system is an interesting idea to explore, especially if it uses solar power to operate. Do you know what the cost of a system like that would be to the city? I can see this turning into a collaborative student project between environmentally science and engineering students.
I completely agree that having Sigg-like bottles alongside plastic water bottle alternatives would help shift some people away from purchasing the one-time use bottles for the more sustainable multi-use ones. However, I think that this positioning only works for particular markets. For instance, I have seen this use of strategic positioning in Whole Foods and I actually bought my SIGG water bottle there because it was next to a plastic water bottle. But a number of other factors also contributed to that purchasing decision.
First, in my eyes the Whole Foods brand represents a more sustainable and environmentally sound grocery store. So before I even stepped into the grocery store, I am thinking about making a more environmentally conscious purchasing decision. Second, I only shop at Whole Foods when I have a bit of extra money in my pocket. Even though I love the food and services offered, I cannot afford to shop there on a regular basis. Thus, I think this positioning strategy works if people are already thinking about making environmentally sound choices and can afford the additional upfront cost. Do you perceive these same barriers?
I’ve also wondered about a how to create city-wide infrastructure to reuse water bottles at the community level. From my experience in NYC and San Francisco, it seems like one of the key reasons why plastic water bottles are so prevalent is the convenience factor for the on-the-go lifestyle. Most people using public transportation and walking through the city do not want to carry anything extra and so the disposability of plastic water bottles is important. But what if you could drop a city-wide water bottle off at a street corner and pick up another one to be refilled?
Obviously, the infrastructure for that type of system is far off in the time horizon-but wouldn’t that be great?
Thanks again for you comment.
It is hard to argue against the simple convenience that plastic water bottles offer. With people living such a “grab-and-go” lifestyle, it’s no wonder that water bottle consumption is so incredibly high in the United States. Yet, as mentioned, the status quo cannot continue to persist if the environment is going to be ruined as a result. Incorporating a water foundation for reusable water bottles into the infrastructure of towns and cities will make it just a little bit easier for people to begin to change their habits. As the markets continue to urge people towards reusable water bottles with trendy new brands and more options, it is great that cities are beginning to back the efforts.
Thanks for sharing the steps that San Francisco is taking toward reducing the number to single use plastic water bottles being used. Making it easier and more convenient for people to fill up their reusable water bottles is a vital step toward creating a viable alternative to bottled water.
While in graduate school, bottle filler stations were installed, which was great and made it a lot easier to refill my metal bottle. The most interesting component of the water fountains was that the calculated the number of bottles saved from landfills. Watching the number of bottles diverted from landfills provided me with a sense of satisfaction and helped me to visualize the impact of using a reusable bottle. When the filler station was first installed my classmates and I would often talk about the number of bottles saved. While ease and convenience are important, just as important if the “feel-good factor”. In this case, watching the number increase in the number of bottles saved from landfills.
Fiona, I know just how good it feels to watch the numbers change while you fill up your bottle. Los Angeles Airport actually has a similar water fountain in some of its terminals and I remember seeing it for the first time and was in complete awe. If this type of tracking system was installed in more areas, I think it would motivate people to bring bottles and immediately see how their choice made a difference.
-Thanks for the post!
Thanks for the nice article. Also appreciated the reader comments. Clean drinking water access should be a basic human right. SF is on the right course.
Well here’s some good news on the evil plastic water bottle front: Concord, Mass., is the first city to ban plastic water bottles!! Woo-hoo!
You can read more here… http://grist.org/list/concord-mass-is-the-first-city-to-ban-plastic-water-bottles/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tweet
Go Concord! Not only will they be known for the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, but also for taking a stand against plastic bottles. Hopefully other cities across the nation will follow suite and enact a similar law.
Thank you for the update and link!
Hi Miranda! I admittedly still drink bottled water occasionally. 🙁 My biggest hurdle is the fear of germs. I realize that my fear is unfounded but when I look at a public water fountain I am always wondering where the water is coming from, is it safe to drink and did anybody put their mouth on the faucet?
Maybe the answer is to put up a sign on public water fountains that say “clean, fresh, filtered…” or “Approved by the City of San Francisco”? Also, perhaps a way to alleviate some of the safety concerns is to place the public water fountains in locked boxes where nobody can touch the faucet?
Lastly, rarely do I know where to look for a water fountain in a city. How about a water fountain city map?
I support the water fountains, it is a great idea to reduce the use of water bottles. At least in some areas. I am happy that I found this website. I think many good ideas will help me reduce my waste generation and I hope to improve my eco-habits. Thanks.
These refilling water fountains are scheduled to be installed in the Atlanta International Airport. Now we’ll just need collapsible water bottles!
It can be so disheartening to see filth in such a pristine, natural place, however it’s great to see a city like San Francisco taking this initiative! New, clean systems with convenient spouts for reusable water bottles are a great way to promote sustainability and spread awareness about the dangers of plastics.
Not only are reusable water bottles expensive, but eco-minded folks hate the sight of them. In Italy there are beautiful stone water fountains all over their cities that see a lot of traffic. These are especially convenient for tourists who spend their days exploring every inch of a destination and are constantly looking to quench their thirst. It’s a great alternative to disposable bottles and the stone facades blend well with the typical architectural beauty of Italian cities.
After Hurricane Sandy many water filtration systems in the Northeast had to be replaced. At the Recreation Center in Long Beach, NY this offered an opportunity to be a little innovative. They installed new water fountains with bottle filling taps. The system also has a solar counter that lets patrons know how many water bottles have been saved from landfills by using the fountain – with the number increasing with each fill. Gym users love the new, clean filters, the easy bottle filling station, and the fact that they can quantify their positive impact!
The Long Beach High School student environmental group worked to have water filters with bottle filling taps installed in the hallways. These were a big hit and throughout the day you could see people filling plastic and reusable bottles alike. Students and teachers loved them because it offered a new filtration system that wasn’t installed in the old fountains and made the water cleaner and fresher tasting.
Its great to see projects like this popping up all over the country and I hope to see it become popularized and spread even further!
Great idea, except for the problems of drinking water contamination, the most serious of which is deliberate–fluoride. We’re one of the last few countries to poison our population that way, but I won’t drink tap water as a result. I made it a great point in the Bloomberg administration to bring my own water to meetings. Bloomberg believed we should drink tapwater… and my response was: when you take the fluoride out.
While the fluoride-cancer cause and effect debate continues, there is no debate that long term drinking of chlorinated water and chlorination byproducts causes cancer, most definitely bladder and rectal cancer, and it is linked to breast cancer. Just google to your hearts content and you’ll see EPA, NHI, NCBI studies and more. The total number of deaths may be low statistically, but out of 300 million people I wouldn’t want to be one of the few thousand. It’s true that more people would die if it were not for chlorination, but ozone is the preferred alternative disinfectant, which I understood to be what Europe uses mostly, ever since chlorine was used as a WMD in WWI. UV light has been added to some municipal systems, but by and large chlorine still has to be present to protect water sitting in distribution pipes. So the question is for the use of a little bit of recyclable plastic, more and more of which is being made from biobased sources (like Coke’s PlantBottle), why would anyone want to drink chlorinated water. Make sure you have a chlorine filter for your entire house if you can. At least for your shower. You will absorb chlorine into your body through your skin; remember you skin is your largest organ. Besides the health benefits of de-chlorinated water, your hair (especially long hair) will feel nicer, your skin won’t itch (some people are actually allergic to chlorine in water), your plumbing will benefit and your clothes after washing will as well. From the drinking fountain refill standpoint (San Francisco uses chlorine, ozone and UV in various ways, but chlorine is in the pipes), having this water filtered for chlorine at the fountain, a point source application, might go a long way towards convincing me to refill. Until then, I’d rather worry about my health than some plastic. Maybe when everyone gets older and sees death and how short life really is, you’ll agree as well.
An interesting article- a couple semesters ago there was a campaign at my college to ban the selling of plastic water bottles which has become a reoccurring movement at colleges across the country in the past few years. The overwhelming amount of gripe from students who were against the ban was incredible. Students were simply not willing to lose the “convenience” of buying bottled water at different food locations on campus. The ban did not pass but several Brita refillable stations were placed in academic buildings, the gym, as well as dorms all over campus. From what I can see, these refillable stations are wildly popular and I use them on a daily basis. Students often complain that they need bottled water because they think the tap water at school is unsafe or unsanitary. This idea is so false considering that most bottled water is actually just tap water in disguise! I think that refillable stations in San Francisco are a great alternative, if they can work on a college campus then I’m sure they can work in a big city. I only wish I had access to more of them!