Environmental issues

Environmental issues

This is an extract from article entitled «concord, Massachusetts bans sale of small water bottles». Its author is unknown but it was published on the third of January 2013 on the website of the British media company, BBC News in its US and Canada section. It deals with the controversial ban on the sale of small water bottles.

First, I will explain the context of the ban before discussing its limits.

1° A new law was passed in concord, Massachusetts

It is prohibited for people to buy and sell «bottled water in units smaller than one liter» (l.1-2) to encourage the use of tap water

Not all bottles are prohibited but only the small sized ones, for individual use and single-ones

Plastic waste is a crucial problem as proved by the «vast floating island of plastic waste pacific ocean» L.22

offenders will get a warning and if they continue they will get a fine

people are increasingly environmentally-friendly and there are more and more laws and measures to protect the environment

2°. A new vision

The initiative follows similar ones in Australia. For ex, the «Australian town BUNDANOON introduced a complete ban on bottled water in 2009» and more than universities in the US and others around the world and some local government authorities have banned the sale of plastic bottles.

One could think that there is a consensus on that issue but that is not the case.

3°. The limits of the law

The law is only about water bottles not other drinks. It is a bit surprising as in the us many people buy soft drinks and juices and they consume many plastic bottles so it may be more useful to have a large-scale ban to have a real impact on the environment thought substantial reduction in plastic waste.

Besides sugary drinks are unhealthy and there is a worrying obesity issue in the united states.

As said by the bottled water industry, small bottles of water encourage healthier lifestyles and people can use them all day long.

Obviously the water bottle industry is lobbying its product but it still makes sense in context in which people want to live longer and healthier.

Lastly, as the ban is limited, citizens can still buy small water bottles in neighboring cities.

The environment has been a concern for humans since last century. Man is aware of the consequences of his behavior on the environment and how it endangers future generations. Some measures have been taken such as the recent conference of the environment which was organized in Paris.

Despite those measures, one has to admit that it is difficult to change habits and companies that cause those environmental issues fight and lobby for the situation to remain the same in order to keep the highest profits, even though the damage they cause is detrimental to human beings.

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