Concern About Unnecessary Plastic Pollution

Editor, I have attended a couple of meetings these past few weeks. I find at several of these public gatherings like Meaford’s Canada Day event supply or sell refreshments including bottled water: including plastic throw away bottled water. I have read/watched some articles in various news outlets about government approvals allowing corporations to harvest this [...]

Editor, I have attended a couple of meetings these past few weeks. I find at several of these public gatherings like Meaford’s Canada Day event supply or sell refreshments including bottled water: including plastic throw away bottled water. I have read/watched some articles in various news outlets about government approvals allowing corporations to harvest this natural resource that they do not own: water is NOT a commodity to be bought, sold or traded.

When I add up this ignorant use of our precious resource combined with the ridiculous use of single use plastic bottles, I come to a conclusion that this is simply human stupidity. Here are some stats: Globally about 600 billion plastic bottles are used each year. In Canada 2.5 billion plastic water bottles are sold annually.

Canada uses 1.2 million barrels of oil to make plastic bottles each year. It takes 3 litres of water just to manufacture 1 litre of bottled water. Only 23% of disposable plastic bottles get recycled.

Canada has the most natural water reserves than any other country on Earth: we have no need for disposable plastic bottles. There are much better alternatives. Over 50% of bottled water is sourced from municipal tap water.

Bottled water’s carbon footprint including production, transportation and refrigeration is 3500 times higher than tap water production. It is obvious we all should be using re-useable plastic bottles for water consumption and that only if necessary for various activities away from home. Going to a party or meeting or events: bring your own water!

If you are looking for a smaller example of plastic waste look at your bananas, apples, lemons and such. Notice the little labels that are stuck on them? I remove them to the recycle bin not knowing if they even can be recycled and who knows why they are there: fruit passports?

Food for thought so lets just get single use bottled water at least reduced if not stopped: we can go after unnecessary tiny plastic labels next. Pat Maloney, Meaford