Do You Recycle Plastic Water Bottles?
Do you recycle your plastic water bottles? If so, you’re in the minority. Surprising, right? Earth 911 claims that only 27 percent of plastic water bottles in the United States are recycled each year. But according to a recent study by Moore Recycling Associates, 95 percent of the U.S. population has access to plastic water bottle recycling. No…
Do you recycle your plastic water bottles? If so, you’re in the minority. Surprising, right?
Earth 911 claims that only 27 percent of plastic water bottles in the United States are recycled each year. But according to a recent study by Moore Recycling Associates, 95 percent of the U.S. population has access to plastic water bottle recycling. No matter how you look at it, the numbers don’t match up.
How do we change this?
- This is hopefully obvious, but ditch the plastic water bottle and use stainless steel instead.
- Make recycling easy and efficient. If there’s a trash can, there should be a recycling bin right next to it.
- Don’t rely on the resin codes used to describe plastics. Studies have shown that this is confusing to the general public. Use descriptions or pictures instead.
- Give the public easy access to filtered water fountains to encourage stainless steel water bottle use.
What are your tips? Let us know in the comments below.
I agree! Also, using recycling containers with clearly marked openings can really help increase participation and reduce contamination.
Keep spreading the word and we’ll increase the number of recycled pop bottles from 27% in no time!!
Thanks! That’s a good point about clearly marking the openings on the recycling containers. I can’t wait to see the number go up.
I try to use reusable water bottles all the time, you can get some great ones from http://www.newwaveenviro.com
Thanks for sharing! Reusable water bottles are great.