By Marisa Papagelis

Every year Americans spend around $11 billion on plastic water bottles. These bottles are bought because of convenience and supposed “better taste.” However, going out to a store, finding a package of plastic water bottles, and waiting in line to purchase them is not at all more convenient than filling up a reusable water bottle at home. As for “better taste,” does bottled water really taste better, or are we just being brainwashed into thinking it is? About 25% of the water in bottled water is just plain tap water. Personally, I don’t taste a difference and I believe reusable water bottles are a better choice for everyone as well as the environment.

Of all the plastic water bottle brands tested, one fifth of them contained synthetic chemicals. These chemicals are ones that arose when manufacturing the plastic, and end up leaching into the water inside of the bottle. Reusable water bottles are better because a glass or stainless steel bottle won’t contain the BPA (a toxic industrial chemical that is used to make certain plastics) that some plastic water bottles may contain.

Plastic water bottles are also very bad for the environment. Plastic takes centuries to decompose and fills up and sits in landfills for a long time. While sitting there, it releases chemical byproducts into the atmosphere. Americans pitch 38 billion plastic water bottles into landfills each year. Also, it takes fossil fuels to produce the plastic water bottles. If a family of four were to make the switch, they would be saving 27 gallons of oil a year. By switching to a reusable water bottle, all of these costs and trash could be eliminated for a better future.

If you’re thinking, “one person switching to reusable water bottles won’t make a difference, so why should I,” you’re wrong. On average, if one person were to drink one water bottle a day for a year, the small daily cost would add up to $550 a year. By using reusable water bottles, one person could save themselves that much money (and maybe use it to buy something they want) and also save the environment, so it is a win-win.

If you are on a sports team, then you know how confusing it is when everyone has the same plastic water bottle and tries to rip their tag off in a special way to make theirs unique. By switching to reusable water bottles, this won’t be a problem. Reusable water bottles come in so many different designs, you’re bound to find one that’s unique from everyone elses.

After looking at all of the cons of plastic water bottles, they don’t seem like a better, or even more convenient, choice anymore. The choice is obvious, everyone should switch to reusable water bottles to be safer to themselves and the environment.

Sources:

http://www.wildmintshop.com/learn/tips-water-bottles.asp

http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/why-plastic-bottles-are-bad-for-the-environment

http://www.banthebottle.net/bottled-water-facts/