Global Campaigns News

US: Hospital bans bottled water for the environment

WSIL TV.

MT. VERNON -- Bottled water has become a staple for many households as a convenient, healthy alternative to soft drinks. But recently bottled water has come under attack

"Bottled water is by far the biggest user of plastic," said Brandi Watson of St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon. "The amount of petroleum and the amount of waste that goes into it makes it the easiest choice to reduce your impact on the environment."

As a result, administrators at Saint Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital decided to help reduce waste by banning bottled water in the facility. Instead, workers are bringing cups from home and filling them up at the water fountain.

"It's just a matter of finding something different to put it in," Watson said.

She also says it has been a bit of a change especially with her department.

"In the marketing department, we have a lot of events, and we take cases of bottled water there," she said. "We've had to adjust how we do things by taking coolers of water instead."

Watson says so far most employees and visitors to the hospital understand the change and are glad to do a small part to help the environment.