| It is an unfortunate fact that plastic bottles are | | | | landfills is for states, cities, offices, and other |
| piling up in the landfills rather than being given a | | | | businesses to implement recycling programs. If |
| second chance to serve another round on the | | | | there were more curbside pickup services and |
| market due to recycling. With bottled water | | | | programs within businesses, the percentage of |
| growing in population, in addition to the countless | | | | bottles ending up in garbage cans would go down |
| numbers of soft drink bottles that are disposed | | | | and the percentage of bottles being found in |
| of each day, the amount of plastic bottles being | | | | recycling centers would go up. |
| thrown into garbage cans all over the world has | | | | Some have even proposed that laws requiring |
| grown exponentially. However, since bottled water | | | | bottle deposits would be the way to go. However, |
| is being consumed more and more each year, it | | | | in terms of businesses, which have a high |
| has become the largest growing beverage over | | | | percentage of workers consuming beverages in |
| soft drinks, juices, and alcohol and is also | | | | plastic bottles each day would benefit from |
| becoming one of the largest contributors to landfill | | | | implementing an in-house recycling program. By |
| waste in the form of plastic bottles. | | | | placing recycling receptacles throughout the |
| It is said that in the last decade, the consumption | | | | business in places such as restrooms and break |
| of bottled water has increased to 22.6 gallons per | | | | rooms, employees would be more likely to |
| person per year, which is up from 10.5 gallons | | | | recycle plastic bottles. Once the receptacles are |
| recorded ten years prior. The number of bottles | | | | full, the business can engage the services of a |
| sold in 1997 was 3.3 billion, whereas the number | | | | recycling service to pick up the recyclables or can |
| sold in 2002 was 15 billion. This is incredible growth, | | | | make arrangement for the bottles to be taken to |
| which has resulted in a significant growth of the | | | | the recycling center. |
| number of plastic bottles being thrown away. | | | | Since compensation for recycled materials is a |
| Most of this water, as well as other beverages, | | | | great incentive for recyclers, a business can |
| are not always consumed in the home. People | | | | benefit from recycling plastic bottles. The money |
| consume these beverages in their offices and | | | | that is collected from recycling can be used to |
| various other places where there is no way to | | | | have an office party or some other reward that |
| recycle the bottle when it is thrown away. | | | | will create a great incentive for the employees to |
| It is said that only 12% of plastic water bottles | | | | recycle. The same applies to homes. With such |
| even see recycling. That means there are around | | | | services as curbside pickup, residents would be |
| 40 million bottles being thrown into the trash each | | | | more likely to recycle. Some communities do |
| day or is thrown out a car window to the side of | | | | utilize these services, but not all. |
| the road. However, in terms of soft drink bottles, | | | | Through taking a proactive approach toward |
| there is a recycling rate of 30%, but the low | | | | recycling plastic bottles, the environment will see |
| recycling rate associated with water bottles brings | | | | benefits and you will save money. Every little bit |
| down the number of all plastic bottles that are | | | | of pocket change helps and it really doesn't take |
| recycled. As of 1993, 19% of all types of plastic | | | | a lot of effort to designate a separate area for |
| bottles were being recycled, compared to 53% | | | | bottles. In the end the consumer is happy, the |
| just nine years before. | | | | recycling center is happy, and the environment is |
| The best way to keep these bottles out of | | | | happy. |