Put a cap on bottled water this month

CONSUMERS have been encouraged to stop purchasing bottled water this October.

About 373 million plastic water bottles bought in Australia end up in landfill or waterways each year, causing significant harm to marine life.

Yarra Valley Water managing director and Choose Tap advocate Pat McCafferty says October being Buy Nothing New Month provides people with a great chance to stop purchasing bottled water.

“We know from research that many people are buying bottled water out of convenience more than anything else, not because they actually prefer it over tap water.

“Bottled water is one of the easiest things that people can give up – as you’re not actually going without, you’re just swapping to an alternative that is much better for the hip pocket and the environment in the long run.”

The economic impact is substantial, as bottled water is about 2,000 times more expensive than tap water.

In August, Torquay roaster Ocean Grind made a similar commitment to the one Yarra Valley is encouraging people to make. They stopped using disposable cups and were heartened to see their decision supported by their customers.

Yarra Valley Water suggests that people not only substitute their disposable coffee cups for renewable ones, but also choose reusable shopping bags, jars and containers when shopping.