| Water. It's the ultimate in going green for our | | | | that do have a bottle deposit law see a whopping |
| bodies. Bottled water is the fastest growing | | | | 95% recycling rate! |
| beverage in the America. We've been told to | | | | The best part of such a bill is it gives individuals |
| drink more water; it's healthy. So we've stepped | | | | and organizations the chance to raise funds for |
| up. According to the Beverage Marketing | | | | whatever they may need. Collecting bottles from |
| Corporation, bottled water consumption has more | | | | neighbors, picking up litter and putting recycling |
| than doubled over the last ten years, from 10.5 | | | | receptacles in local businesses to then turn in the |
| gallons in 1993 to 22.6 in 2003. But this newly | | | | bottles for cash (usually about $.05 per bottle) is a |
| acquired habit is not so healthy for Mother Earth. | | | | wonderful way to get paid, save energy as well |
| And think about why. Bottled water is portable. | | | | as help keep the Earth healthy. |
| You drink it at work, at the park, at the mall, in | | | | Okay, now back to what you can do. In 2007, |
| your car, on your walks, at the gym...the list goes | | | | Massachusetts Representative, Edward Markey, |
| on and on. The problem with all this drinking is | | | | introduced the Bottle Recycling Climate Protection |
| there usually aren't recycling receptacles available | | | | Act of 2007 into the U.S. House of |
| at these places. | | | | Representatives. If the bill passes, it will mean a |
| It's estimated that only about 12%-16% of plastic | | | | $.05 deposit on every plastic bottle container sold. |
| water bottles are recycled-which is less than | | | | So to make it super simple for you to help, the |
| other bottled drinks such as soda or beer. | | | | Container Recycling Institute has set up an online |
| Wow...it's staggering to think that up to 88% of all | | | | toolkit so you can help to get the word out and |
| the millions of water bottles sold end up as litter | | | | get this bill passed. You can become an activist |
| or stuffed into our landfills. | | | | for this worthwhile cause. The toolkit comes with |
| But the good news is there is something YOU can | | | | all sorts of goodies like press releases, reports, |
| do about it. The Container Recycling Institute is | | | | opposition tactics, letters to the editor and much, |
| hoping that a nationwide bottle deposit law would | | | | much more. Go to toolkit.bottlebill.org to access |
| create the desire to recycle. There are currently | | | | the toolkit and do your part to help keep Mother |
| eleven states that already have such a bill in place. | | | | Earth healthy. |
| And the Institute claims that States like Michigan | | | | |