Pros & Cons of Recycling Water Bottles

The use of plastic water bottles is on the rise in this era of health consciousness and environmental concern. Environmentalists and the government have ingrained the idea of reduce, reuse and recycle into our minds. To be a responsible consumer, it is important that you gather all your facts and understand the advantages and disadvantages of the process of recycling.

Con: Poor Recycling Rate

Despite the high consumption rate of bottled water, there isn't a correlating recycling rate. It has been estimated that less than 25% of all water bottles get recycled; the remainder end up in landfills. Add to this the fact that the majority of bottled water is consumed when we are at work or at the gym, where the opportunities to recycle aren't abundant.

Con: Toxins

Some plastic water bottles contain chemicals that can be hazardous to our health, including Bisphenol A (BPA), dioxins and phthalates. These toxins are released into the environment when our water bottles are discarded, whether at a recycling facility or a landfill.

Pros: Save the Environment

Plastic isn't biodegradable, meaning it doesn't break down easily. In fact, plastic water bottles take hundreds of years to degrade. Moreover, plastic releases toxic fumes when burnt, which many scientists see as a factor in global warming. Recycling drastically cuts down on these, and many other detrimental effects on the environment.

Pro: Recycled Uses

Rather than taking up space in landfills, plastic water bottles can have a second life as a completely different product. Depending on the type of plastic the bottle is composed of, it can be recycled into pillow stuffing, carpeting, clothing, and car parts.

Considerations

Most plastic water bottles are made out of #1 PET, polyethylene terephthalate, which is one of the most common types of plastic; this means that recycling facilities should be easy to find. However, keep in mind that not all cities have recycling facilities. Also, the lids of plastic water bottles cannot be recycled. If you intend to recycle your water bottles, be sure to remove the lids first.