From the REI website- “A 2007 New York Times article reported that Americans consume more than 30 billion single-serving bottles of water annually. (Wow.) The nonprofit Consumer Recycling Institute estimates at least half, and probably closer to 75%, of these bottles turn into waste. That means they wind up in landfills, get incinerated or turn into litter. (Double wow.)

Those figures do not take into account the materials (petroleum being chief among them), production costs and transportation costs associated with plastic bottles. It all provides more incentive to find a reusable water bottle to carry with you on and off the trail.”

I use reusable water bottles made of polyethylene (which I’ve had since college), copolyester (Nalgene, etc), aluminum, and stainless steel (Pura). Susan and I used to buy disposable bottles filled with mineral water. Then we installed a water filter on our kitchen sink, which is where I fill my water bottles with when I go biking, running, hiking, paddling, et cetera.

While they all work my favorite is the Pura 1.2 liter. It fits my hand well, holds plenty of water, and is completely food grade stainless steel, even the stopper. It’s a fine piece of equipment.

The main thing here, though, is that by using a reusable bottle you stop producing the trash and litter that disposable bottles so freely supply. Please, consider the advantages of the reusable bottle. Purchase a few and use them religiously.

I was going to include a comparison of the various types of reusable bottles in this blog. REI did such a fine job on their website that I just linked to their piece here.

The reusable water bottle- it reduces waste and litter. Try it, you’ll like it!

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2011. All rights are reserved.