Bottled Water Ban?

Nestlé: Bottled water ban could threaten 100 jobs

9/9/2008 4:47:44 PM

WATERLOO, ONTARIO — Waterloo Region officials may soon vote to ban the sale of bottled water in regional government facilities, according to a September 9 article in the Guelph Mercury. According to Statistics Canada data shown in the article, the municipally supplied water is not the most popular beverage straight out of the tap. Although 41 percent of Waterloo households reported in 2006 that they filter the municipally supplied water to improve appearance, taste or color, officials are standing by the water’s quality. “Our tap water is very good quality,” Councillor Jane Mitchell said in the article. “If we’re selling bottled water in our buildings, what are we saying to the public?” Proponents of the ban also say that drinking tap water will reduce the plastic bottle waste that accumulates in blue recycling bins. Nestlé Waters Canada argues that a ban would not reduce such waste, but would encourage citizens to replace bottled water with more sugary bottled beverages. Nestlé Waters Canada also said in the article that the ban on bottled water could threaten the future security of about 100 local jobs at Nestlé. There are no environmental concerns caused by commercial bottling in the region. Nestlé has offered to help promote plastic recycling, according to the article. To view the full article, click here. For related information on this story, click here.