Practical Parenting

Ditch the bottle

The disposable water bottle, that is. Aussies drink millions of litres of bottled water every year, using up a whole heap of energy and raw materials (including the barrels and barrels of oil needed to make the plastic bottles) and creating waste which, though recyclable, most often ends up languishing in landfill. If the eco argument isn’t enough to sway you, though, maybe the money side of things will: according to Clean Up Australia, you could fill a 600ml bottle with tap water once every day for eight-and-a-half years before it would cost you $2.50, about the price you pay per bottle for the store-bought stuff. Make today the day you ditch the expensive habit and get yourself and your little ones reusable bottles to refill at the tap instead. While you’re at it, think about forgoing take-away coffees and spending a few dollars on a reusable cup your local barista will be happy to refill.

Photo by Tupperware May 4, 2012