Town Bans Bottled Water Sales

[ensho]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/23320994/detail.html



Supporters Cite Oil Used To Make Bottles



The town of Concord has banned the sale of bottled drinking water in town beginning in 2011.

"We only have one planet and I just don't want to see it spoiled," said Jean Hill, who introduced the measure at Concord's Town Meeting.

Hill said that New York, Illinois and Virginia, as well as more than 100 cities, have taken action to cut spending on bottled water.

The measured passed by Concord would allow the sale of refillable containers of water, which could still be sold and delivered in town. Only plastic bottles that companies cannot reuse would be banned.

Supporters say the production of plastic water bottles uses 17 million barrels of oil each year. The beverage industry opposes the measure.

-snip-

The ban on plastic water bottle sales may be largely symbolic. Town officials aren't sure they have the power to enact the ban without approval from the state.
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[sinkingfeeling]

1. Too bad we can't ban all plastic packaging and bags from the entire country.

[Warpy]

2. Yes, especially those damn bubble packs that are welded shut

and that you have to take tin snips to, risking the contents. I hate those frigging things with a purple and undying passion.

I do notice more people using canvas bags lately, though, and it's made a difference in the number of the things flapping high in the trees.

[pansypoo53219]

5. i have seen a few recyclable ones

but yeah. toooooo much plastic packaging. i try and reuse as much as i can for packaging.

[LiberalFighter]

3. If the state does not permit total ban within the city.

Then at least ban the use of commercial bottled water on city property. Encourage the same for school properties.

[hughee99]

4. Can you ban the USE of commercial bottled water, or just the sale? n/t

[LiberalFighter]

7. Items can be prohibited from use on government property.

In addition, policies can be implemented and enforced to prohibit the use. That would also include the buying of such items by government units. Instead of buying it they would either need to provide their own container at meetings, workplace, etc or use tap water.

It doesn't stop the sale but if a government employee can't use such items then they need to use alternatives. Likewise for any visitor to any government site.

[hughee99]

8. But you're not prohibiting an "item" from use.

Bottled water is still allowed (store-bought water that originally came from a bottle), bottles are still allowed (as long as they are empty), plastic containers are still allowed (which is what people will be bringing from home), the only thing that's NOT allowed is putting the water in the bottle that it came in. And what if my "own container" IS a water bottle. I've seen many people buy a bottled water, and then refill that bottle over and over with tap water.

Yes, you can make a policy that govt workers must provide their own containers, but what about citizens with business on government property? That's what I was really wondering about.

If I walk into the town hall (as a non-town employee) with a bottle of water, will I have to pour it into a cup (and presumably throw out the plastic container) to be in compliance? What if I have a soda? Does this ONLY apply to water?

I do understand the motivation behind it, but it seems a little silly if they were to try to ban not only the sale, but also the USE of "bottled water". Also interesting that just a few days ago, tap water all around Boston needed to be boiled and there was a run on bottled water.

[Kalyke]

6. I wish they'd ban all the plastic used to wrap toys in containers

that a visually appealing to your children, but are hell on earth to get through when attempting to take them out to actually allow your child to play with them.