The costs associated with plastic use are as varied as the plastics themselves.
These range from environmental costs, to health costs.
Some 8% of all the world’s oil goes to making plastic products.
The cost of the bottled water itself.
Yet, we have been “taught” to believe that water from a bottle, sometimes costing as much as $10 a gallon, is better for us, or has more or less of this mineral or that vitamin.
In fact, most bottled water companies take municipal or spring water, bottle it up, and charge you more for that water, then you pay for a gallon of gas.
When I think of this cost, I think of all the people in the world who already struggle to make ends meet.
What looked like a beautiful beach from afar, turned out to be a beach overrun with people and plastic rubbish.
If we buy a reusable water bottle, and fill it with tap water than municipalities might be more inclined to install hydration stations, where you can refill your bottle.
By making recycling easier, an improved “default,” more people MIGHT actually start doing it!