Plastic Water Bottles Should be Banned
Some people think that bottled water is bad for consumers and should only be used in situations such as disasters when no other clean water is available. (Problems: Pollution, Shipping, BPA contamination, unfair profits, water mining, etc.) http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/5-reasons-not-to-drink-bottled-water
Others believe that it is a natural and healthy portable drink and that it is good for the economy for the companies to make big profits. http://www.nestlewaterscorporate.com/bottled_water_things_to_know/
If you are on the left side of the room – No If you are on the right side of the room - Yes
You need to research and cite at least 2 facts to support your opinion. They must be different than the facts that have already been posted. Write at least one well thought out paragraph supported by your facts citing websites that are reliable and valid
Agree
Side Score: 200
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Disagree
Side Score: 221
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Water bottles should be band because they are bad for the environment.They should be banned because they are taking water from are natural resources and selling it for about ten times the price of are perfectly fine tap water. Also they are unhealthy for people to drink from. Water bottles are bad for the environment because they thrown and dumped into are environment and only about 30% of water bottles are recycled. They are taking water from are natural resources when we already have perfectly fine tap water to drink. Also 75% of earth is covered with water but only 1% of it is fresh water and if we keep using it to make bottled water we'll run out soon. They are proven to have chemicals in them and can cause birth defects if the are consumed on a regular basis and can cause cancer. Side: Agree
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You dont know what youre drinking when you drink bottled water, while tap water is much healthier. For all you know, you could be drinking toilet water from plastic bottles. The people who are so lazy that they can't get up for the most important resource on earth can get a Nalgene bottle or some other alternative which holds more water. Side: Agree
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They are just a scam and many people don't understand that the regulations for plastic bottle water companies are practically none, while your tap water has many regulations and can be trusted to be safer. Corporations often use tap water to put in their bottled water, i.e. Dasani, Aquafina, and Nestle brand bottled water - therefore you are just being charged for the label. Side: Agree
Plastic water bottles should be banned because even though they are portable, many places don’t have recycling barrels. So, people throw about 80% of them away. Plastic takes 1,000’s of years to biodegrade, so it takes up valuable landfill space and leaks toxic additives into the ground water. The bottles produce about 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. Plus, it takes about 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce that much plastic. Even if the bottles don’t make it into the trash they still end up in our oceans and animals mistake it for food, poisoning, choking, or killing them. So, why kill the environment and animals for something that isn’t even better than tap water? http://www.fitsugar.com/ http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/ Side: Agree
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Bottled water should be banned and should only be used in disaster situations. The reasons for this is that bottled water is not a good value, it’s practically tap water that you have to pay for, and it causes pollution. Most people think that just because you buy bottled water from companies in stores that its better than regular tap water, but in reality it isn’t. Also, even though wattle bottles are a key item used in recycling, most people don’t even bother to recycle and the used up bottles just get dumped and thrown away causing pollution. Up to 1.5 million tons of waste per year is from just old water bottles. Instead of wasting your money on a twelve pack of bottled water every week, you can just get yourself a new thermos and use a carbon filter to turn your “disgusting” tap water sparkling fresh, for a fraction of the price of a pack of water. http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/ Side: Agree
Most people drink their water on go, and usually there is not easy way to recycle it. So instead of recycling, they toss it into the closest trash barrel, or even just on the streets. The plastic takes forever to decompose over time, so it just piles up in landfills. They are swallowing landfill space, increasing air pollution and destroying the ozone layer. People in the U.S. throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles an hour. country’s landfills are closing at a rate of around two per day. Plastic bottles make up approximately 11% of the contents of landfills. Side: Agree
Water is being called the "Blue Gold" of the 21st century no only for its value to the physical survival of humans, but because of its significance to societies everywhere in the world. Bottled water is morally, ethically, and even economically insulting. Water is a basic need of survival; the good thing is that it’s found everywhere. Large business conglomerates take water that can be easily accessed and sell it to people who could get it for free. This is a very low expense venture; hence conglomerates such as PepsiCo. and Coke who bring in an average of around $9 Billion dollars a year in net income are making huge profit that is virtually taken out of the economy and into the pockets of the CEO’s and executive officers of the aforementioned companies. Not only this, but bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year in America alone, after taking up 47 million gallons of oil each year to just make them. Many of these plants leak toxic fluid that gets into the surrounding environment and spreading to other areas. Many of these plants are near rivers, so the chemical waist and toxic fluids get into the river and travel to other nearby places. Consequently, the production of bottles creates air pollution that gets into the atmosphere and raises the CO2 levels in the ozone layer, and contributes to environmentally unnatural and harmful events that take place; acid rain for example. Not to mention that after these bottles are produced, they degrade and seep into the surrounding environment causing mutations in animals and diseases such as cancer. Some try to refute this by saying there is no harm in the production of plastic bottles, but these bottles contain Bisphenol A (BPA) which can cause drastic negative effects to most living organisms (including humans) with even small molecular contact with living cells. And since most bottles aren’t properly recycled and end up in land fills or in different places in the environment, it’s a pretty big deal. So why contribute to economic and environmental injustices by buying bottled water when you can easily get filtrated water straight from your sink? And if you need extra consolidation that your water is clean and purified, you can invest in a water purification system for your own house. It’s that simple. http://www.tappedthemovie.com/ http://www.allaboutwater.org/ http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/01/ Side: Agree
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PET/PETE is what plastic bottles are made out of, which is a thermoplastic polymer resin that comes from polyester. When PET begins to degrade, it releases Acetaldehyde, which is better known as ethanol. When re-using the plastic bottles alone, can be harmful. So even in recycling, the wear and tear of the bottles can leak toxic chemicals. Such as DEHP. The chemicals that are in the plastic bottles generally won’t harm you, but if you look at the recycling number on the bottom of the bottle, you can find out yourself the level of chemicals that are in the bottles. Also, when these bottles are heated, it will contaminate any liquid that is being held in the water. Side: Agree
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Plastic bottles are made by using oil, with the shortage of oil, and how long it takes for the earth to produce/make oil, is an issue on its own. Studies suggest that between 7% and 8% of the world’s fossil fuels are used in producing new plastics. This doesn’t sound like a great amount, but it accounts for millions of tons of fuels per year. Recycling could preserve these fuels—even reuse them in other markets. Side: Agree
2006, the equivalent of 2 billion half-liter bottles of water were shipped to U.S. ports, creating thousands of tons of global warming pollution and other air pollution. In New York City alone, the transportation of bottled water from western Europe released an estimated 3,800 tons of global warming pollution into the atmosphere. In California, 18 million gallons of bottled water were shipped in from Fiji in 2006, producing about 2,500 tons of global warming pollution. Side: Agree
Plastic water bottles should be banned. For eight glasses of the same quality water as bottled it would only cost $0.49 per year for tap water compared to $1,400 of bottled water. It is estimated that 40% of all bottled water actually comes from the tap. So what you are paying for is no better than what you could get from home, with no waste and no harmful chemicals from plastic. It takes around 47 million gallons of oil to produce enough plastic every year. We are using these natural resources to package something we could get for Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. For every 6 water bottles used, only one of them makes it to the recycling bin. Over 80% of them are just thrown away which kill marine life after making it to the ocean. http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/ Side: Agree
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They are harmful for the environment and are bad for our body. Chemicals of the plastic enter our body along with the water. They seriously harm people. And the companies don't care, they just want to get money. Who honestly needs plastic water bottles? Its only real effect is that it harms everything around it. Side: Agree
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Plastic is a by-product of burning fossil feuls, so naturally its bad. I dont think that if all the presidents come together and it is clear they should be banned, it will be obsolete in a couple years. it will take a while, unless you make it illegal and have a really huge punishment. if they dont ban it, i think they should at least have a separate recycle bin, you know, cut the actual producrion of plastic. im just 11 and 1/3 a year old, but im not oblivious to these conflicts. Side: Agree
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Those water bottles that say they are spring water might be toilet water. We really don't know. Plus, plastic water bottles have deadly toxins. One is Antimony. This toxin can cause dizziness, depression, nausea, vomiting, and even death. I don't want to die quenching my thirst, and I am SURE nobody else here wants to either. Pubmed.com Side: Agree
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IIIIIIIIIIIII HHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTEEEEEEEE Side: Agree
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People, bottled water IS tap water, we just don't realize it. The only difference is that 70% of bottled water that crosses the state border isn't regulated, so we don't know exactly what we are drinking when we drink bottled water. Also, plastic water bottles are filled with chemicals. Deadly ones, too. When the bottle heats up, those chemicals leak into the water, poisoning us. Over 24,500 chemicals have been found in plastic bottles. Also, plastic never biodegrades. So except for those that have been incinerated (which pollutes the air much more than regular trash, mind you) , virtually every piece of plastic ever made still exists. Side: Agree
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I think that everyone should drink from plastic water bottles becasue they are extremely convenient and more sanitary. When you're on the go, they're easily accessible. There are many advantages from drinking from the plastic bottles, such as, plastics are recyclable, they can be resuable, plus the making of them is cheap and the bottle itself is reliable. Plastic has many beneficial factorts it can be hard, soft, flexiable and shatterproof, with those benefits plastic water bottles have a long shelf life. Plastic water bottles are better than any other container because they are lightweight, making them easy to carry around. Overall plastic water bottles are an easy way to get a refreshing drink. http://www.ehow.com/ Side: Disagree
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Are you kidding? Plastics may be recyclable, but on average, 38 out of 169 bottles are recycled. The rest are incinerated. Also, plastic isn't more sanitary, because there are 25,000 chemicals in your average plastic bottle. If you want convenience, get a sanitary, clean Nalgene bottle which has no chemicals, can hold more, is easily reusable, and much better for the environment. The making of plastics isn't cheap, because the millions of barrels of oil used each year and there is massive cost of cleanup and making them. The bottles have the shelf life, but they will start to warm up, which will begin to release those 25,000+ chemicals into your water, and those chemicals include BPA. Nalgene bottles are lightweight, as well. They may be an easy way to get a drink, but there are too many chemicals, there are alternatives which are better, they kill the environment, and they use up so much oil and money. I would like these things, but the reason I don't? They're made of plastic. Side: Agree
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Water in plastic bottles should not be banned because it is a lot easier to have water in a bottle so you can drink on the go and not always have to stop and take a drink. To solve the recycling issue in different places they should have both a trash can and a recycling bin next to each other and label is “plastic” so people would throw their bottles in there and not in the trash. Although oil is used to make the water bottle only .1% of it is used in the process, and it’s not like the oil is used once then thrown away, a large number of plastic bottles are recycled so the oil is not put to waste. The only other competition to put water in for the on-the-go factor would be glass, but plastic uses less petro-chemicals when it is made than glass. Without bottled water the rate of obesity in America would only increase, both in children and adults, since most people would choose a sweetened drink if water was not available. Lastly, bottled water can be safer since chemicals go into the ground and can affect the ground water for people and could harm them. http://www.nestlewaterscorporate.com/ Side: Disagree
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I disagree because I think we need the plastic water bottles because we can keep using and using the plastic bottles and recycle them. If we keep recycling them then we could keep making those plastic water bottles. Also it is bad for the economy if we ban plastic water bottles. Side: Disagree
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Plastic water bottles should not be banned because it would impact our economy in an even more negative way than it is now. With the usage of plastic bottles, you can recycle the bottles and use them over and over again. Plastic water bottles represents less than 1% of solid waste. Another important point to recognize is that plastic bottles are safe to use and they won't crack or anything if you drop them. Besides with drinking water and having plastic water bottles it is better than wasting money on soda and actually drinking soda since it is not the best thing for you. http://www.nestlewaterscorporate.com/ Side: Disagree
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Water bottles also decrease the chance of dehydration. Side: Disagree
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If you drink water than it will decrease dehydration. Side: Disagree
Yo, water is dope as hell. It individualizes your water experience. You got all these sick kids runnin around like conquistadors sneezing all over bublers and such. Why would you rick getting sick over having your own water without loads of lead in it and sickness. Also sometimes when you lean down to get a drink it can get on your clothes, i know its only water but school is no place for a wet T-shirt contest. That is unacceptable. Water bottles are sold everywhere and bring in revinew for any store or coperation, Without the individualized water businesses would lose money. Also, take third world countries for example. There waters are contaminated and when america swoops in to save the day like superman we have water from america, Bottled, and fresh.Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm you smell that, fresh water.........no lead........ Side: Disagree
Alright, so i am going to start off by saying that i dont understand why people are complaining about water bottles. The reason that the envrionment is being harmed is because people aren't doing their jobs. Plastic is being dumped inproperly. If recycling was taken seriously then that would solve the biggest problem of all. Also if we got rid of water bottles how are we supposed to get water? their are not any water distribution plants that i can recall. plastic bottles are the safest way to take water anywhere you want to go. People in America do not have enough time in their schedule to go out and fill up a glass container or a steel container to get water. plastic bottles come in large quantities and they are cheap. Money and time, all saved when using plastic. Also i have never heard about a human death from plastic bottles? Side: Disagree
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Water bottles should not be banned because water is a key essential of life, it can be a source of power and energy. Even though the world is about 70% water and only 1% is drinkable. If the world needed water so badly, our top scientist could just find away to make all water drinkable. If water bottles get banned a lot of people will lose there jobs, and would push the United States more into an economic problem. Sure taking water and making water bottles ruin thousands of lives, but it saves millions. If people are complaining about the bottles destroying the environment, then they should recycle more and or get other people to recycle. If water bottles are no better than tap why does it matter? The only difference is your paying, which the money goes to works to feed there families. Side: Disagree
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Water bottles shouldn't be banned because the production and sell of water bottles supports a part of our economy and provides millions of jobs for americans. With out people making money our economy would decrease ever faster than it already is. The production of water bottles is almost the foundation of a house. IF we ban water bottles the economy would suffer a massive loss and that would affect the world. Side: Disagree
Come on everyone know that 99% of the world has drank out of a water bottle. Why risk spreading a disease when we can stay germ free and stay hidrated. What would happen if water bottles were banned and people were going on a vacation. What are they supposed to stop every 30 minutes maybe and drink from a public well that can carry illnesses. NO! We need water bottles to stay hidrated and continue our countries fast travel. See right now i am drinking out of a water bottle, and instead of leaving class to get a small drink of water, i am still in class learning while drinking the well needed water my body deserves. Side: Disagree
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http://earth911.com/news/2009/10/26/ - proves that plastic bottles save money http://ctgreenrealestate.com/ -proves that people complain about how much it costs and valid reason why people dont recycle Side: Disagree
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I think water bottles should not be banned. Mostly because it would take away alot of peoples jobs, and that wouldnt do anything but make the economy and the reccesion we are in much worse. This is how alot of people make a lively hood.Plus bottled water alowws you to bring your drink anywhere. It is something healthy to drink instead of soda. (http://bottledwaterfacts.com)(http:// Side: Disagree
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Bottled water should be banned and should only be used in disaster situations. The reasons for this is that bottled water is not a good value, it’s practically tap water that you have to pay for, and it causes pollution. Most people think that just because you buy bottled water from companies in stores that its better than regular tap water, but in reality it isn’t. Also, even though wattle bottles are a key item used in recycling, most people don’t even bother to recycle and the used up bottles just get dumped and thrown away causing pollution. Up to 1.5 million tons of waste per year is from just old water bottles. Instead of wasting your money on a twelve pack of bottled water every week, you can just get yourself a new thermos and use a carbon filter to turn your “disgusting” tap water sparkling fresh, for a fraction of the price of a pack of water. http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/ Side: Disagree
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Someone made a very interesting point to me once. We tend to see this as a water bottle vs tap argument, but more often what you find is that it is an argument between bottled water and bottled soda. When people buy water bottles it is often from a convenience store or gas station, where tap water isn't even a choice. So people will choose bottled water over bottled soda as a healthy alternative. So if it is an argument about the environment we'd have to ban soda bottles as well. I doubt many people would go for that. Side: Disagree
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Banning something that is used as often as a water bottle would defiantly take a toll on the economy. Both water companies, bottling companies, distributors and consumers would suffer from such an unconstitutional ban. Also, an issue like this should stay between the business and the customer. If you dislike water bottles because you think they're over priced or they're bad for the environment, then you have every right to not buy them. If the costumer (you) is not satisfied, then the business will surely suffer. Side: Disagree
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Plastic water bottles actually cause MASSIVE environmental harm, Dancer. Look at the Pacific Ocean Trash Island (about the size of Texas), which has millions of plastic water bottles in it. Yes, they are convenient, but you could also just get a reusable bottle and keep it filled in the fridge whenever you need to go out. Side: Agree
Around the world, 20,000 plastic bottles are bought every second. The bottled water ban has been a prominent issue. Americans consumed more than 13.7 billion gallons on bottled water in 2017, more than any other beverage. This raises the concern if bottled water could have a drastic affect human health and harm the environment by increasing waste. The truth is, bottled water has no evident issues therefore should not be banned. Firstly, bottled water is a practical water source in emergencies and in any natural disaster. For example, in January of 2017, officials changed to cities water supply In Flint MI. The highly corrosive water eroded the city pipes and poisoned the water spilling lead and iron, making it poisonous for anyone drinking or bathing in it. From Jan. 2016 to Apr .2018, the city distributed free bottled water to residents as a substitute for the unusable tap water. It was estimated a family of 3 used 151 bottles a day. The implementation of water bottles provided a effectively simple solution to a rather dangerous life threatening situation. Without bottled water, the people affected by a natural disaster such as a hurricane, flood or earthquake would be left without a effective source of water, since water pipes providing tap water may be destroyed or tap water may be unsafe to drink. Along with bottled water being an efficient approach in life threatening situations, eliminating water bottles would decline human health. It is logical to believe, the declination of bottled water would lead to a higher consumption of sugary drinks and decreased human health. One confirming example was when the University of Virginia banned the use of bottled water on campus. As a result, the ban increased the sales of juices by 11% and sugar sweetened beverages by 10%. With an absence of water bottles, sugary drinks are to go to options, not tap water. The International Bottled Water Association notes that, "research shows that if bottled water isn't available, 63 percent of people will choose soda or another sugared drink." By removing bottled water human health is rapidly becoming harmed. In addition, bottled water is a crucial component for people living in an undeveloped country. Without the healthy pure water bottles people rely on, they are left with unfiltered, contaminated water filled with deadly disease. Water bottles are evidently important in retaining human health. Some may argue that banning bottled water would significantly reduce waste and help protect the environment. However, there are several reasons to oppose this point of view. Banning bottled water would not necessarily reduce waste and the packaging of other containers are much more harmful. For example bottled water only take up 3.3% of landfill waste, a miniscule number, when compared to soft drink containers (13.3%) and aluminum cans (7.9%). The packaging of sports drinks produce nearly 50% more carbon dioxide emissions per serving than bottled water. If bottled water is going to be banned, it would not make sense to have it be only abolished since other disposable liquid packaging's are way more harmful than bottled water. This would also affect businesses selling bottled water since their product is only banned. Side: Disagree
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