Eco Friendly Bottles

Pollution in the world is increasing at an alarming rate. As a result the increasing impact of global warming is being felt around the world. A major reason for this phenomenon is the use of goods made up of non degradable plastic. Since this plastic is not bio degradable it causes landfills to be exhausted and initiates other kinds of pollution. Bottled water bottles is the main source of this waste plastic, it's better to use Eco friendly bottles.

Regular plastic water bottles have a lot of disadvantages. First and the foremost is the plastic used to make water bottles is a very unstable compound. Drinking from plastic bottles causes the compound in the plastic to break down and form carcinogenic compounds.

Moreover some of the colored plastic bottles contain lead, which as a heavy metal can cause other diseases as well. Plastic bottles also contain DEHA which is another potential carcinogen. Other chemical compounds present in plastic bottles have been shown to mimic human hormones and can cause hormonal imbalance as well.

Due to all these disadvantages of throw away plastic bottles, many manufactures are now introducing--safe reusable Eco friendly bottles made from glass.

As clear as plastic, but with no chance of toxins leaching into the water they are chemically stable and can hold water for a long time with no reduction in the quality or taste of the water.

People have become increasingly aware of the extent of water pollution in our planet. The water that we get from the municipal water companies and taps is safe, but still has a lot of impurities and over a life time can have detrimental effects on ones health.

Hence you need to have a constant supply of safe clean water. Eco friendly bottles are quite useful since they can hold clean and safe water for longer periods of time and it does not spoil.

Eco friendly water bottles are economical too. Since these bottles can be reused again and again, many office managers and city councils are supplying filtered water rather than bottled water for their employees.

Instead of using throw away plastic containers, you can fill these Eco friendly bottles with clean water and keep reusing them. Throw away plastic bottles form a very large part of the plastic waste on the planet. Each year millions of plastic bottles are discarded by people all over the world.

The manufacture of these bottles costs millions of dollars. Once used and thrown away, it becomes difficult to actually dispose them. Recycling is an option but that can only be done to a limit. Even the most expensive and branded bottled water is actually a health hazard. Bottled water is transported using fossil fuels, which is also is a dwindling resource and costs millions of dollars.

The icing on the cake is, the quality of the throw-away-bottle bottled water is no better than the water from your tap. You can do your part by setting up our own water filtration system, and refilling your own Eco friendly bottles and taking pure clean fresh water where ever you go.

For more information about having your own personal source of fresh clean water, please visit my web site. Terry Johnston -- the baby boomer who researches the market for great products that will help other baby boomers maintain their health and wellness.

For more information about fresh clean water. Click here http://www.healthy-clear-water-site.com/

Reusable Bottles - Which Are Best?

How do you decide which type of reusable bottle you should use? The advantages and disadvantages of seven types of plastic, aluminum, stainless steel bottles will be compared to help you make an informed choice. Features related to health, performance, environmental impact, and cost will be evaluated. Environmental impact will be assessed by considering the durability of the bottles and whether they are recyclable. The resin code (type of plastic) is identifiable by the number within the triangular symbol on the bottoms of plastic bottles.

Plastic #1

Most disposable water bottles are made of plastic #1 or PET. Some people try to reduce their plastic waste by washing them out and reusing them, but bottles made out of plastic #1 are not reusable. A Canadian study found that 13% of the water bottles tested in an elementary school had bacterial levels (9% were found to have fecal coliforms) exceeding drinking water quality guidelines by the end of the school day. Bottles made of plastic #1 are not durable enough to withstand use, cleaning, and reuse without losing their integrity. The compelling issue with these bottles is not whether they leach unwanted chemicals into the water, but that bacteria cannot be easily washed out of them. Long storage time on the shelf or in a warm garage or trunk does increase the likelihood of bacterial growth and may cause antimony to leach from the plastic. Contrary to urban legend, freezing bottled water does not increase the likelihood of leaching. These bottles are recyclable everywhere, and they should be recycled after a single use.

Plastic #3, #6, and #7

There are numerous reports that plastics #3, #6, and #7 leach unhealthful substances into drinks. Plastic #3 (PVC) leaches phthalates which have been shown to cause developmental and reproductive damage. Plastic #6 (polystyrene) leaches styrene which can cause nervous system effects and liver damage. Polycarbonate, one type of plastic #7 (other assorted types) from which the clear, brightly colored bottles are sometimes made, has been shown to leach Bisphenol A (PBA), a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen. Plastic #7 (polycarbonate only) is controversial. Two groups of technical experts studied it and came to differing conclusions. They agreed that BPA leaches into drinks at low levels, but one group said the levels were too low to cause any concern, and one group said that the levels were significant to human health. Polycarbonate has been banned by the Canadian government and is being re-reviewed by the USEPA. There is a new type of plastic #7 that is BPA-free; whether it leaches other substances, not currently known to be hazardous, is yet to be seen. None of these three types of plastic is widely recyclable. Plastic #7 is durable, but like most plastic, will wear more quickly if exposed to heat in the dishwasher. Bottles made from plastic #7 cost between $8 and $12.

Plastics #2, #4, and #5

Plastics #2, #4, and #5 are the healthiest plastic bottle options since they are not known to leach. These plastic bottles do retain odors and stains and after repeated use, tend to leak if not held upright. This lack of durability makes them a poor choice for long term use, and they will not hold up well in the dishwasher. Plastic #2 is commonly recyclable, but plastics #4 and 5 are not recyclable in many municipalities. Bottles made of these plastics are inexpensive, ranging from $5 to $10.

Aluminum

Aluminum bottles are lightweight and hip looking, and they keep drinks cooler longer and fresh tasting. Because aluminum is reactive with acidic liquids, aluminum bottles have to be lined with an enamel or epoxy layer that could become a problem with wear and tear. They are durable, but if you drop them, they may dent which may affect the efficacy of the liner within. The most popular aluminum bottles have very narrow necks making them difficult to clean, dry, and load with ice. They are not dishwasher safe. Aluminum bottles with certain types of lining are not recyclable. Aluminum bottles cost between $10 and $30.

Stainless Steel

Food-grade stainless steel bottles are lightweight and hip looking, and they keep drinks cooler longer and fresh tasting. There are no known safety issues; stainless steel is non-reactive so the bottles do not leach and do not have to be lined. Stainless steel water bottles are the best choice health-wise. They are durable and can last for years, but if you drop them, they may dent. They are dishwasher safe, but will only get clean and dry if the opening is wide enough for easy water and air circulation. Stainless steel is recyclable in all communities that recycle. Stainless steel bottles cost between $10 and $30.

Recommendation

Stainless steel bottles are the best water bottles, but ANY reusable bottle, no matter where it comes from or what it is made of, is better for the planet than the manufacturing and shipping of disposable plastic bottles. Stainless steel bottles make a safe choice health-wise and have the best performance features. They also have a low long term impact on the environment because they are durable and are widely and cost effectively recycled. A stainless steel bottle will easily pay for itself because it won't need to be replaced for years. If you fill it up with tap water, rather than spending 17 to 75 cents for each disposable bottle of water in the grocery store, it will only take 2 weeks to 6 months to break even on your investment. So go out and get yourself a stainless steel bottle and fill it with tap water, filtered if you want, and know that you are consuming the healthiest, most cost-effective, and carbon-conscious drink under the sun.

The author, Lydia Chambers, is co-founder of Back2Tap, a social business that educates people about the wastefulness of disposable plastic bottles and bags and sells stainless steel bottles and fair-trade organic cotton bags through direct sales and through group fundraising online and in bulk. Graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Colorado, Lydia is a certified professional geologist who worked for Shell and Exxon in oil field development and contaminated site assessment and remediation. She has lead grassroots environmental campaigns to raise awareness about lawn pesticides, car idling, and bottled water. Currently, Lydia serves on her municipal Planning Board and Open Space Committee.
Read more at: http://www.back2tap.com

Plastic Bottles - Advantages of Recycling

Even though we use different kinds of plastics, plastic bottles play a major role in our day to day activities. Plastic bottles are preferred by most people because they are usually lighter and do not break easily like glass materials or bottles. So it has become a common product used by everyone. Fortunately plastic is one of the materials that can be recycled after you use it, but most people don't consider the benefits of recycling.

What is the use of recycling Plastic bottles?

By recycling the plastic bottles in five areas it can be beneficial for you and your people. The five areas are,

1. Oil
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
3. Energy
4. Reuse
5. Landfill Space

Oil Conservation:

By recycling plastic bottles we can save almost four barrels of oil. We all know how the rising price of oil affects our day to day life. The increase in the price of oil causes the rise in price of gas, food, products, and other commodities. However, people don't really understand the importance of recycling plastic bottles.

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Can you imagine, it takes less processing to recycle things. So, this means you require less energy for new manufacturing as well as less pollution being emitted. This brings about a reduction in greenhouse gasses.

Conserving Our Energy

As we all know, recycling does not consume of much energy. You can use two-thirds the energy to manufacture from recycled products. In the case of plastic bottles, which are used in water and soft drinks and are made up of material called Polyethylene Terephthalate (PTH), one pound of recycled PET can save as much as twelve-thousand BTU's energy.

The Benefits of 'Reuse'
Most people think that when a plastic bottle is recycled it transformed into a similar bottle. However, the fact is that the plastic bottle you are using now will change into something completely different after the recycling process. It may become carpeting; it may be someone's jacket or (if you can imagine) even part of someone's deck. People need to understand this and know that recycled material is used as a resource. The water bottle that you see now will not be the same when it is recycled.

Save our Landfills

You may be thinking 'how much room can one plastic bottle really take?'. If everyone in the USA were to think that way, imagine how many plastic bottles that would be. One of the biggest problems facing us today is that our landfills are running out of space. The need to create new landfills, which take up more space and puts more trash into our earth, is never ending. One of the only solutions left to us is to drastically reduce what we put into them.

People should know by recycling one ton of plastic bottles you can free up to 7.4 cubic yards of landfills. Considering the recycling avenues available nowadays, that turns out to be a lot of space that is being used unnecessarily.

As you can see, there are many benefits of recycling plastic bottles.

Mark Ransome is a contributing editor and writer for the popular new website Think Green Articles. For more information on what you can do to solve the problems of pastic water bottles, you can check out our page on plastic water bottle alternatives

Getting Paid to Recycle Plastic Bottles Instead of Throwing Them in Landfills

Water. It's the ultimate in going green for our bodies. Bottled water is the fastest growing beverage in the America. We've been told to drink more water; it's healthy. So we've stepped up. According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, bottled water consumption has more than doubled over the last ten years, from 10.5 gallons in 1993 to 22.6 in 2003. But this newly acquired habit is not so healthy for Mother Earth.

And think about why. Bottled water is portable. You drink it at work, at the park, at the mall, in your car, on your walks, at the gym...the list goes on and on. The problem with all this drinking is there usually aren't recycling receptacles available at these places.

It's estimated that only about 12%-16% of plastic water bottles are recycled-which is less than other bottled drinks such as soda or beer. Wow...it's staggering to think that up to 88% of all the millions of water bottles sold end up as litter or stuffed into our landfills.

But the good news is there is something YOU can do about it. The Container Recycling Institute is hoping that a nationwide bottle deposit law would create the desire to recycle. There are currently eleven states that already have such a bill in place. And the Institute claims that States like Michigan that do have a bottle deposit law see a whopping 95% recycling rate!

The best part of such a bill is it gives individuals and organizations the chance to raise funds for whatever they may need. Collecting bottles from neighbors, picking up litter and putting recycling receptacles in local businesses to then turn in the bottles for cash (usually about $.05 per bottle) is a wonderful way to get paid, save energy as well as help keep the Earth healthy.

Okay, now back to what you can do. In 2007, Massachusetts Representative, Edward Markey, introduced the Bottle Recycling Climate Protection Act of 2007 into the U.S. House of Representatives. If the bill passes, it will mean a $.05 deposit on every plastic bottle container sold.

So to make it super simple for you to help, the Container Recycling Institute has set up an online toolkit so you can help to get the word out and get this bill passed. You can become an activist for this worthwhile cause. The toolkit comes with all sorts of goodies like press releases, reports, opposition tactics, letters to the editor and much, much more. Go to toolkit.bottlebill.org to access the toolkit and do your part to help keep Mother Earth healthy.

Go to http://www.howyoucangogreen.com/blog to sign-up for the How You Can Go Green Newsletter and to be the first to get updates on green issues, products and ideas.

Plastic Bottle Recycling - How To Keep Plastic Bottles Out Of The Landfills

Abundance of plastic bottles are progressively growing and it has created environmental and other undesired problems. How can we avoid this from happening? This is a very good article about how we can recycle tonnes of plastic bottles and further educate the society to implement the idea.

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It is an unfortunate fact that plastic bottles are piling up in the landfills rather than being given a second chance to serve another round on the market due to recycling. With bottled water growing in population, in addition to the countless numbers of soft drink bottles that are disposed of each day, the amount of plastic bottles being thrown into garbage cans all over the world has grown exponentially. However, since bottled water is being consumed more and more each year, it has become the largest growing beverage over soft drinks, juices, and alcohol and is also becoming one of the largest contributors to landfill waste in the form of plastic bottles.

It is said that in the last decade, the consumption of bottled water has increased to 22.6 gallons per person per year, which is up from 10.5 gallons recorded ten years prior. The number of bottles sold in 1997 was 3.3 billion, whereas the number sold in 2002 was 15 billion. This is incredible growth, which has resulted in a significant growth of the number of plastic bottles being thrown away. Most of this water, as well as other beverages, are not always consumed in the home. People consume these beverages in their offices and various other places where there is no way to recycle the bottle when it is thrown away.

It is said that only 12% of plastic water bottles even see recycling. That means there are around 40 million bottles being thrown into the trash each day or is thrown out a car window to the side of the road. However, in terms of soft drink bottles, there is a recycling rate of 30%, but the low recycling rate associated with water bottles brings down the number of all plastic bottles that are recycled. As of 1993, 19% of all types of plastic bottles were being recycled, compared to 53% just nine years before.

The best way to keep these bottles out of landfills is for states, cities, offices, and other businesses to implement recycling programs. If there were more curbside pickup services and programs within businesses, the percentage of bottles ending up in garbage cans would go down and the percentage of bottles being found in recycling centers would go up.

Some have even proposed that laws requiring bottle deposits would be the way to go. However, in terms of businesses, which have a high percentage of workers consuming beverages in plastic bottles each day would benefit from implementing an in-house recycling program. By placing recycling receptacles throughout the business in places such as restrooms and break rooms, employees would be more likely to recycle plastic bottles. Once the receptacles are full, the business can engage the services of a recycling service to pick up the recyclables or can make arrangement for the bottles to be taken to the recycling center.

Since compensation for recycled materials is a great incentive for recyclers, a business can benefit from recycling plastic bottles. The money that is collected from recycling can be used to have an office party or some other reward that will create a great incentive for the employees to recycle. The same applies to homes. With such services as curbside pickup, residents would be more likely to recycle. Some communities do utilize these services, but not all.

Through taking a proactive approach toward recycling plastic bottles, the environment will see benefits and you will save money. Every little bit of pocket change helps and it really doesn't take a lot of effort to designate a separate area for bottles. In the end the consumer is happy, the recycling center is happy, and the environment is happy.

Saving money the next time you move is important. Using environmentally friendly used moving boxes is a great way to maintain your bottom line. Help reduce excess landfill waste by choosing biodegradable packing and shipping products.