International Bottled Water Association | IMMEDIATE RELEASE | December 16, 2009
YouTube Videos Show Importance of Recycling Bottled Water Containers
ALEXANDRIA, VA – In response to misinformation about bottled water recycling efforts, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)’s consumer website, www.bottledwatermatters.com, has released two short YouTube videos, entitled “Recycle This Bottled Water Video” and “How To Recycle Bottled Water,” which highlight the need for consumers to properly dispose of empty containers by placing them in a recycling bin.
“Too often activists talk about empty water bottles piling up in our landfills, and this confuses consumers by making them think bottled water is not recyclable,” said Tom Lauria, IBWA’s Vice President of Communications. “But in fact, all PET plastic containers are 100% recyclable and PET is in very high demand by the recycling industry. In fact, last year, U.S. PET reclaimers had to import post-consumer PET from other countries to meet demand in this country.”
In the Recycle This Bottled Water Video, a well-informed teenager encourages viewers to get involved in recycling, by utilizing curbside services and by pressing local officials to expand recycling programs in their areas as she points out the need for public space recycling. She also travels to a landfill and notes that all plastic PET containers account for less than one third of one percent of the in U.S. waste stream. But she says this amount shouldn’t even be there – all PET plastic needs to be placed in a recycle bin, she tells viewers.
This message is timely as the National Association for PET Container Resources recently announced the national recycling rate for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottled water containers (.5 liter or 16.9 ounce) now stands at 30.9% for 2008, an improvement of 32% over the 2007 rate.
“This big improvement in bottled water container recycling over the 30% mark, while encouraging, reminds us that still more needs to be done,” said Tom Lauria, Vice President of Communications at the International Bottled Water Association.
The second video, How to Recycle Bottled Water, is a youthful and humorous look at the different ways to recycle empty bottled water containers. The video ends with a conclusion: No matter who you are, or what you do, ALWAYS recycle.
For more info, visit BottledWaterMatters.com.
To view the “How to Recycle Bottled Water” video, click here.
To view the “Recycle This Bottled Water” video, click here.
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Contact:
Tom Lauria
703-647-4609
1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 650
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-683-5213
Fax: 703-683-4074
Web:www.bottledwater.org
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters, including spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and sparkling. Founded in 1958, IBWA’s membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers. IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, to set comprehensive and stringent standards for safe, high-quality bottled water products.
In addition to FDA regulations, IBWA member bottlers must adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates additional standards and practices that in some cases are more stringent than federal and state regulations. A key feature of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice is a mandatory annual plant inspection by an independent, third-party organization.
IBWA is proud to be a partner with Keep America Beautiful and a supporter of Drink Up, an initiative of former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which encourages Americans to drink more water more often – whether from the tap, a filter, or in a bottle. Choosing water is always the healthy choice.
