Plastic Bottles: Implications for the Future

Plastic bottles are causing great harm to the environment around me.  This is something that myself and my family struggle with.  Strategies for promoting positive environmental behavior will be discussed.  How positive and negative consequences can increase pro-environmental behavior will be explained.   This paper will address a positive and negative example of how technological advances have impacted the environment.  The influence of environmental policies will also be examined. 

Plastic bottles are being used everywhere to contain many different types of substances.  Water bottles are especially popular for their convenience.  Single serve water bottles take an extremely long time to decompose.  It is easier for a person to grab a water bottle out of the refrigerator when he or she is on-the-go.  It is cost effective to invest in a reusable water bottle in addition to being healthier on the environment.  “More than 30 billion plastic water bottles become garbage or litter each year in the United States, according to the Sierra Club, a grass-roots environmental organization established in 1892. (Bourdeau & The, 2009, para. 4). 

An article in the New York Times titled “Throwaway plastic bottles and the environment” (1994) expressed concern about hotel amenities and how switching to elegant pump dispensers could eliminate the cost and waste of these bottles.  “When one considers that the use of these elegant dispensers also eliminates two million one-ounce plastic containers every year at the Boston Park Plaza alone, it seems only appropriate to ask why every hotel in the United States is not following suit” (Throwaway plastic bottles and the environment, 1994, para. 3).  

“Recent health studies have shown that plastic water bottles contain Bisphenol A, a BPA that causes a variety of health problems. It takes approximately 1,000 years for a plastic water bottle to degrade, and few water bottles are recycled. Most are burned or buried in landfills. Both methods of disposal result in the release of toxins such as dioxins into the environment. Dioxins can accumulate in the body and cause significant health-related consequences” (Environment; green bottles offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic water bottles, 2010, para. 5). 

Strategies for Promoting Positive Environmental Behavior

There are several ways that people could reduce the amount of water bottles in landfills.  Purchasing reusable water bottles, filtration systems, amenity pumps, and green bottles are all good alternatives to disposable plastic bottles.  The best way to keep plastic bottles out of landfills is to eliminate their use altogether.  Many people in the United States have clean drinking water coming out of his or her faucets.  This water can be used without treatment or filtration.  For some, filtration is necessary to drink tap water.  In my home we have well water, which I drink all the time.  It has extra calcium in it but it does taste different than bottled water.  For me this has not been a problem, but for my parents it has.  A filter can be placed on the spout of the faucet to filter water as it comes out or a filtration pitcher can be used to filter water and store in the refrigerator.    Separate dispensers can be used to hold five-gallon water jugs, which can be reused. 

Green bottles are stainless steel bottles that have been FDA approved.  They come in a variety of sizes and designs, are washable and dishwasher safe, and can also be recycled if need be.  These bottles have wide tops for washing and inserting ice.  They come as single walled bottles or as insulated bottles that retain cold or heat (Environment; green bottles offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic water bottles, 2010). 

American’s are drinking more water and trying to be healthier, which has called for newer home water filtration systems.  These systems come in a variety of devices and designs.  “New products such as the sleek Bobble Jug, designed by Karim Rashid, filter water and look good in the refrigerator” (Koncius, 2012, para. 3).  There are also water bottles with filtration systems built into them, which would be good for someone on-the-go or in an area without filtered water.  Disposable filtration straws can be used at restaurants or during travel.  It is important to change filters as needed to ensure proper filtration of water. 

Pro-Environmental Behavior

Positive and negative consequences can encourage and increase pro-environmental behavior.  For example, a reduction of water bottles in landfills is a positive consequence of not using disposable water bottles.  This consequence is environmental friendly and would encourage more people to switch to reusable plastics or glass.    A negative consequence would be smog and air pollution due to water bottles in landfills.  “Unfortunately, the enormous amount of plastic water bottles is leaving a terrible carbon footprint on the land and studies show the plastic is detrimental to our health” (Environment; green bottles offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic water bottles, 2010, para. 1).  Plastic bottles are detrimental to our health, which is another negative consequence that could encourage and increase pro-environmental behavior. 

Technology Advances and the Environment

Technology has erupted across the world causing positive and negative influences on the environment.  The endless amount of technological gadgets has made human life easier in some senses, but too cluttered and time consuming in others.  Technology has caused new advances in BPA free bottles that can be reused without causing health problems.  “Born Free” has designed BPA-free baby bottles.  With such a big advancement in technology there are also negative outcomes as well.  One example that is prominent in my area is the excessive use of technology.  Children are always on tablets, cell phones, computers, video game systems, TVs, or MP3 players.  There is no room for boredom among the younger generations.  Because of this the environment is being neglected and not being paid proper attention.  People do not care for the environment like they used to.  In this respect technology has been extremely detrimental to the environment. 

Environmental Policies

Within some states, counties, or cities there are environmental policies that regulate requirements on recycling.  For example, Connecticut has laws requiring residents to recycle. “Both water bottle deposits and recycling laws foster recycling through a discontinuous effect that converts reluctant recyclers into diligent recyclers” (Viscusi, Huber, Bell, & Cecot, 2009, para. 1).  Within my state and county we do not have any regulations requiring recycling.  Our trash service does not even offer the option to recycle, which is a hazard on the environment.  All states should have regulations that require residents to recycle. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, water bottles are extremely harmful to the environments, taking 1,000 years to degrade and releasing toxins as they do.  Green bottles and home water filtration systems are excellent alternatives to individual serving disposable water bottles. A reduction in water bottles going into landfills and pollutants are examples that can create and increase pro-environmental behaviors.  Technology has positively and negatively influenced the environment.  The environment would benefit from more strict environmental policies such as regulations on recycling within every state. 

References

Allison, B. (2008, May 07). Many look for alternatives to plastic bottles containing BPA. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/465251121?accountid=458

Bourdeau, C., & The, W. T. (2009, Jul 07). Plastic, plastic everywhere. Washington Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/410068692?accountid=458

Environment; green bottles offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic water bottles. (2010). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/744468460?accountid=458

Koncius, J. (2012, May 31). Home water filtration systems. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1017732271?accountid=458

Plastic water bottles clog the environment. (2005, Nov 23). The Gazette. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/434267408?accountid=458

There are alternatives to plastic water bottles. (2009, May 21). Herald. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/362808604?accountid=458

Throwaway plastic bottles and the environment. (1994, Jul 31). New York Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/429795130?accountid=458

Viscusi, W. K., Huber, J., Bell, J., Cecot, C. (2009). Discontinuous behavioral responses to recycling laws and plastic water bottle deposits. Retrieved from http://www.nber.org/papers/w15585