Message In A Recyclable Bottle

We go through cases of water every month, and I thought I was doing a good thing by diligently recycling the plastic bottles. The fact is, I can do better. What I found out about plastic recycling from Earth911.org was eye opening and actually disgusting. While every single bullet point below stands on its own in importance, I highlighted in red what instigated my desire to change.

* In 2006, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each, but only recycled an average of 23 percent. That leaves 38 billion water bottles in landfills.

* Bottled water costs between $1 and $4 per gallon and 90 percent of the cost is in the bottle, lid and label.

* According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. In 2006 that number jumped to 28.3 gallons.

* It takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to manufacture a year’s supply of bottled water. That’s enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars.

* Eight out of 10 plastic water bottles become landfill waste.

* In 2007 we spent $16 billion on bottled water. That’s more than we spent on iPods or movie tickets.

* Plastic bottles take 700 years before they begin to decompose in a landfill.

* If everyone in NYC gave up water bottles for one week they would save 24 million bottles from being landfilled; one month would save 112 million bottles and one year would save 1.328 billion bottles from going into the landfill.

So the change that we took in our household was to say goodbye to buying cases of bottled water. We have now since started using a Brita pitcher. I found that recycling in our household has been greatly reduced (my boyfriend, the trash guy, is thankful). The water from the Brita, I'm happy to report, tastes good. And most importantly, I know I've made a dent -- even if it's just a knick -- in keeping the landfills clearer.

Find the right Brita pitcher for your household online at Sears, Kmart, Wal-Mart and Amazon