Bottled Water to Go - AWAY

New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees has ordered all State Government departments and agencies to stop buying bottled water, following swiftly on plans for a small-town ban.

Bundanoon, in the NSW Southern Highlands, is set to become the first community in Australia to ban the sale of bottled water. And Government agencies seem set to also ban its use, with a partial ban already operating in Ministers' offices.

"We're asking government departments to phase it out unless there is obvious and practical commonsense reasons not to in the event someone doesn't have cool water in a hot environment," said the Premier. He says the move will save taxpayer money and help reduce the impact on the environment of producing and throwing away plastic bottles. A public campaign to discourage the use of bottled water by the wider community is also planned.

Residents in Bundanoon are meanwhile preparing to vote on their town's plan to ban local shops from selling plastic bottles of water at a community meeting tonight. Local businesses in the town of 2,500 people are proposing to replace the bottles with reusables and then offer directions to filtered water fountains that will be installed on the main street, calling it 'Bundy on tap'. It is likely there will be widespread support for the plan.

In Bundanoon "... there is an overwhelming opposition to the marketing scam that is stilled bottled water," with other cities around the world taxing bottled water and putting in place measures similar to those of the NSW Government.

Environmentalist Jon Dee from activist group Do Something believes Bundanoon could be the first town in the world to ban bottled water entirely. "Huge amounts of resources are used to extract, bottle and transport that bottled water, and much of the package ends up as litter or landfill," he said. "Environmentally, it makes no sense and... what we are trying to do in Bundanoon is show that a community can live without single-use bottled water." "If Bundanoon can ban bottled water, many other towns and communities around Australia will also consider their usage of bottled water," he said.

"At the very least, if they don't ban it, then at least they will reduce their usage of it and in doing so, reduce the half-a-billion dollars a year that Australians are spending on bottled water."
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I find that living in a hot environment makes drinking water during the day very necessary, especially if working outside, but with most of Australia having very reasonable water supplies produced by local utilities, the use of bottled water is crazy, and VERY expensive. It would be normal to take water from home, at most times, and keep it in a soft cooler, so it is cool to drink - not necessarily very cold. I even freeze it in 3L bottles for work use outside and to do double duty as a freezer brick in the esky. Great option and commonly used. Why buy water??

I have no issue with bottled water in Bali for example where local water supplies are commonly of poor quality for drinking. But in many parts of Asia today, tap water is just fine for drinking, with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur good examples.

Bottled water in Australia is both expensive and dubiously superior to tap water.

Reducing or banning the trendy use of purchased single use bottled water is a good idea!!!!

Container Deposit Legislation for the NT

It is like a bolt of lightning..........The Northern Territory Government announced today a container deposit scheme, to be similar to that in South Australia.

The press release in part says:

The Chief Minister Paul Henderson today announced the Northern Territory will introduce a cash for containers scheme to reduce litter and boost recycling efforts. “Cash for containers will make the Territory cleaner and greener – it will reduce litter by rewarding people who do the right thing,” Mr Henderson said. “This Government has always supported a national approach to legislation providing cash for containers but I’ve been disappointed with the slow progress. I’m not prepared to wait further.

“I’m taking the lead and hope other states will follow.

“My Government has made the commitment in principle to adopt cash for containers legislation by 2011 provided it is financially viable, legally sound and can deliver in both urban and remote centres. “That’s why I have set up a reference group to further explore those three criteria, and report back to Government in July.”

The Environment Minister Alison Anderson will chair the reference group, which will include Fannie Bay MLA Michael Gunner and the Independent Member for Nelson Gerry Wood. Ms Anderson said the NT’s scheme will be modelled on South Australia’s container deposit legislation where cans, bottles and cartons attract a 10c refund.

“The results in South Australia clearly show cash for containers is a success. In other states beverage containers typically contribute up to 40% - 50% of litter by volume – in South Australia they contribute less than 20% by volume,” she said. “I don’t pretend the scheme is going to fix all our litter problems but it’s very effective for what it targets.

“It gets litter off the streets and money into the pockets of people who do the right thing. It gives kids and community groups a chance to raise funds and we can show a clean green image to visitors who come to share our unique environment and lifestyle.”

The Independent Member for Nelson Gerry Wood said he is simply rapt that after nearly 20 years of trying, a Northern Territory Government has finally bitten the bullet and announced a program that will do great things for the Territory environment and the community.

This is quite amazing............and seems to go against the efforts of a number of strident industry lobby groups who have resisted such a move for many many years.

Sure it is still a year or more away - in 2011 - but that is time to develop the legislation and show others we can do the right thing! [ as the old Keep Australia Beautiful slogan goes]