It's no secret that recycling is important. We're taught from a young age that we should recycle everything we can in order to help the environment. And when it comes to plastic water bottles, many of us think that recycling is the best way to go. But what if we told you that recycling plastic water bottles isn't as environmentally friendly as you think? In fact, buying a reusable water bottle is a much more sustainable option. Keep reading to learn why!
Recycling plastic water bottles is not as environmentally friendly as you think
Humans use about 1.2 million plastic bottles per minute in total. That’s a lot of plastic! And what do you do with all those empty water bottles? If you’re like most people, you probably recycle them. But did you know that recycling plastic water bottles is actually bad for the environment? While most people believe that recycling plastic water bottles is good for the environment, the truth is that this process actually uses a considerable amount of energy and resources.
The process of recycling plastic water bottles creates harmful greenhouse gases
While recycling plastic water bottles helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, the process of recycling itself creates harmful greenhouse gases. In order to recycle plastic, it must first be heated so that it can be melted down and reformed into new products. This process releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Additionally, most recycled plastic is not actually turned into new water bottles - it is downcycled into lower-quality products like carpeting or textiles. As a result, recycling plastic water bottles is not as effective in combating climate change as other methods, such as reducing consumption or switching to reusable bottles.
Manufacturing new plastic water bottles from recycled ones takes more energy and resources than just making them from scratch
Making anything requires energy and resources, but manufacturing something from recycled materials generally requires more than making it from scratch. This is especially true for plastic water bottles. Recycled plastic bottles need to be cleaned and processed before they can be used to make new bottles, and this process uses a lot of water and energy. In addition, recycling plastic often results in a lower-quality product that is less durable than one made from virgin materials. The same piece of plastic can be recycled about 2-3 times before its quality becomes too low and unable for use in manufacturing or any other purpose. As a result, it is usually more environmentally friendly to simply avoid using plastic water bottles altogether.
Most recyclers don't actually recycle the plastic water bottles they collect, instead opting to sell them to China
It's no secret that recycling plastic has become a big business. Most cities have some form of recycling program in place, and many people make a point of sorting their plastics into the correct bins. However, what happens to those plastics after they're collected? It turns out that most of them don't actually get recycled. Instead, they're sold to China, where they're used to make new products.
The problem is that recycling plastic is expensive, and it's often not worth the effort for recyclers to process it themselves. That's why they opt to sell it instead. China has been accepting these plastics for years, but recently they've announced that they're no longer interested in taking our recycled plastics. This could create a major problem for recyclers, who will now have to find a new market for their wares.
It's estimated that only about 9% of all the plastic ever produced has actually been recycled. The rest ends up in landfills or the ocean. If we want to make a dent in this problem, we need to find a way to recycle more of our plastics domestically. Otherwise, we'll just be sending our trash abroad and creating more environmental problems in the process.
Buying a reusable water bottle is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option.
Anyone who has ever been on a hike knows the importance of staying hydrated. Unfortunately, our reliance on single-use plastic water bottles is having a major impact on the environment. Every year, millions of pounds of plastic end up in landfills, and much of it ends up in the ocean where it can be harmful to marine life. One way to reduce our impact is to switch to reusable water bottles. Reusable water bottles are made from durable materials like stainless steel or glass, and they can be used over and over again.
The good news is that, with each use of your reusable bottle, you are reducing its environmental impact. For example if a person drinks from their reusable water container every day for 30 days in total they will have reduced these impacts per serving to below those associated with disposable bottles!
Plus, many reusable water bottles now come with filters, so you can fill them up with tap water and know that you're getting clean, safe drinking water. Not only is switching to a reusable water bottle more sustainable, but it's also more economical in the long run. So next time you reach for a plastic water bottle, consider investing in a reusable one instead.
So what can you do to help reduce the amount of plastic bottles that end up in our landfills and oceans? The answer is actually quite simple – just stop buying them! Instead, invest in a reusable water bottle that you can fill up with fresh, filtered water from home.
We created the WaterWell water filter bottle to help reduce plastic waste from single-use plastic water bottles and ensure you can get clean, healthy water. The WaterWell bottle uses a 2-stage filtration system to remove impurities from water, and the reusable bottle can be used over and over again. Plus, every time you use your WaterWell bottle, you'll be helping to reduce plastic waste and protect our environment. So why not ditch the disposable water bottles and make the switch to WaterWell? Your wallet and the planet will thank you!