Community & Labour Action
Canada: Vancouver councillor wants bottled-water ban
Posted: July 21, 2008The Province.
VANCOUVER -- A Vancouver city councillor wants to put a stop to bottled water being available in city facilities.
Coun. Tim Stevenson filed a notice of motion that is set to be dealt with at council's July 21 meeting.
In his motion, Stevenson cites a number of reason why bottled water should be banned within the city:
Eighty per cent of waste from plastic bottles end up in landfills.
. The delivery of bottled water burns substantially more fossil fuel than tap water.
. The manufacture of plastic bottles generates 100 times the toxic emissions that are produced in the manufacturing of glass bottles.
. The removal of water for bottling sees the water is withdrawn from its source but not returned to its local ecosystem.
. Bottled water is not required to meet the same health standards as municipally provided water.
. The city has to pay several times more for bottled water than it does for tap water.
Stevenson instead suggests that staff provide a memo to council on eliminating bottled water being sold to or available from all city departments and services. A small portion of the money saved could be used to invest in reusable water containers for employees to use.
Stevenson also said council and Metro Vancouver should work to promote awareness of the environmental and health benefits of tap water over bottled.
The motion was seconded by Coun. Heather Deal.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
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A tool kit to challenge the bottled water industry and beverage exclusivtity contracts at school and on campus
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A tool kit to challenge the bottled water industry and beverage exclusivtity contracts at school and on campus
Find part 1 of the kit here
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