Our Strategy
There can be different approaches we can take for reducing and eliminating use of single-use plastic water bottles:
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Stop production
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Stop sales
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Stop consumption
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Recycle more
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Cleanup
As citizens and consumers, we can participate in the last three. If we stop consumption of single-use plastic water bottles, we don't have to recycle though we will still need to cleanup what pollution already is out there. Stopping consumption will automatically reduce production and sales, and will eventually stop it. Hence, stopping consumption is the most effective strategy along with cleanup efforts. While we wean ourselves from single use plastic water bottles we must continue to recycle them.
Guide to Cut Down Your Use of Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles
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Buy a reusable water bottle (preferably not made of plastic).
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The bottle you purchase should preferably be easy to clean and durable, for example, it could be made out of steel.
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In the long run, using a reusable water bottle is cheaper than having to continually visit stores, buy single-use plastic water bottles, and stock them.
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Always carry a reusable bottle with you.
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Fill up with water at home and carry with you wherever you go.
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It is a well-known fact, many single-use water bottle manufacturers fill using municipal water supplies.
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Refill your bottle on-the-go.
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There are water refilling stations or water fountains almost everywhere you go, for example, office buildings, schools, stores, malls, parks, airports, train stations, and many other places.
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Keep the bottle clean and reuse it.
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Replace your bottle when you absolutely need to by buying a new reusable water bottle.
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Encourage others to do the same.
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Share with your family and friends how easy and convenient it is to use a reusable water bottle and encourage them to also do it.
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Encourage your employer to provide reusable water bottles to all employees.
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If you notice a place you frequently visit that does not have a water filling station or water fountain, request the people-in-charge to budget for it and provide it for everyone’s benefit.
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For more ideas on eliminating plastics from your life, read this article from the New York Times.
Our End of the Deal
Above we ask you to make an important change in your lives. Here is what we commit to doing:
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Investigate -- study production, sales, consumption, recycling and cleanup of single-use plastic water bottles.
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Inform -- inform the community of the adverse health and environmental effects of single-use plastic water bottles.
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Influence -- influence the community to stop consuming single-use plastic water bottles, recycle if they do, and cleanup what is already polluting our environment.
Later Down the Road
Down the road we intend to expand our influence:
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Influence the sellers to stop selling single-use plastic water bottles.
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Influence businesses and employers to stop handing out single-use plastic water bottles and instead give out reusable non-plastic water bottles.
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Influence government to improve policy around single-use plastic water bottles including considering banning them.