According to a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, bottled water can cost anywhere from 240 to 10,000 times the cost of tap water. If you buy just one bottle of water a day, this can add up to hundreds of dollars per year. Bottled water also generates an excessive amount of needless waste. The City of Toronto estimates that Torontonians dispose of approximately 100 million bottles per year, many of these bottles end up in landfills or as litter that pollutes forests, rivers and streams.
The good news is that it’s easy to save money and the environment simply by bringing a reusable water bottle to campus. York has 29 (and counting) water refill stations on both the Keele and Glendon campuses. The stations provide clean, cool drinking water free of charge. Along with approximately 200 drinking fountains, it’s easy to find free drinking water on campus that doesn’t come in a disposable bottle.
To learn more about bottled water and what York University is doing, please refer to the University’s Bottled Water Facts sheet and visit the Sustainability website.
At home, at work or at school, there are many other simple and easy ways to reduce waste:
- Use reusable items rather than disposable whenever possible.
- Buy items with minimal packaging.
- Donate unwanted items to charities or resale stores.
- Follow simple directions to opt out of unaddressed admail from Canada Post.
- Consider opting out of receiving a printed copy of the Yellow Pages.
- Properly sort your household waste for pickup.
For more information, visit the waste pledges on the Sustainability site and Stewardship Ontario’s Virtual House.
The Green Tip of the Week is provided by sustainability@yorku. Check out the new Sustainability website, sign your office up for the Green Office program, or become a Sustainability Ambassador. It’s never been easier to get involved in sustainability at York University.
Do you have any green tips to share? E-mail sustainability@yorku.ca and your idea could be featured in a Green Tip of the Week.