Plastic Vs. Reusable Bottles: Which is Better? - Sruthi Kumar

Plastic Vs. Reusable Bottles: Which is Better?

You have probably heard the term “Save the turtles,” which addresses the problem of too many straws in the ocean. One of the oceans’ biggest issues is the amount of plastic waste that is inside it, but where does all this waste come from?

Humans have created many inventions that have helped the world, like electric cars and solar panels, but have also created many problems that will soon be irreversible. Climate change is affecting everyone and everything. As the ozone layer traps more heat, the atmosphere becomes hotter. Since the temperature is rising, the Arctic ice-caps are melting, meaning rising sea levels. More ocean habitats are at risk and we, humans, can help them. The Metronome, New York, is a clock in front of Union square which tells the time in a unique way. The clock now shows how many years we have left to reverse climate change, and it is shocking. We have roughly 7 years until climate change is irreversible.

So what can you do to help?

There are simple changes we can make that can greatly impact the environment. One of them is changing to a reusable water bottle. Literally, any reusable water bottle would make a big impact and is cheaper at the end of the day. The process of making plastic water bottles takes up a lot of energy and resources, to make something that will be thrown away in ten minutes.

It takes 17 million barrels of oil to make a one years supply of plastic water bottles. That’s enough oil to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year or power 190,000 homes. Bottling water also releases 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into our already damaged atmosphere. Most water plantations come from places with limited water supply, like California, and has also caused a drought in Pakistan. Plastic waste kills 1.1 million marine creatures annually. Also, for the recommended 8 glasses of water per day, bottled water costs 3,675 times more than tap water. Sure, reusable water bottles may seem less convenient than plastic ones at first, they are much better for the environment. To do your part for the ocean and environment, I suggest buying a reusable water bottle - they are healthier for us, and cheaper in the long run!

Works cited:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/arts/design/climate-clock-metronome-nyc.html

https://biofriendlyplanet.com/green-alternatives/reusables/the-environmental-advantages-of-reusable-water-bottles/#:~:text=Reusable%20water%20bottles%20are%20a,sustainable%20alternative%20to%20disposable%20ones.&text=With%20plastic%20bottles%20impacting%20not,you'll%20want%20to%20make.