Ban the Bottle

Ban the Bottle

College campuses across the country are restricting or banning the sale of bottled water, citing student pressure to address environmental concerns. We explore the movement and critics who say that taking the option of bottled water away is not the answer.

College campuses across the country are restricting or banning the sale of bottled water. Instead they're promoting "hydration stations," where students can fill up their own reusable bottles with filtered tap water. The groups behind "ban the bottle" campaigns cite environmental concerns over plastic bottle manufacture and waste as their motivation. But critics say students have a right to choose what they drink, and that without bottled water on offer, students will reach for sugary beverages like soda instead. We explore the debate over banning the bottle on campuses.

Guests

Chris Hogan

Vice President of Communications, International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)

Katy Kiefer

Food and Water Watch

Marlee Baron

Former co-president, co-president Vermont Students Towards Environmental Protection (VSTEP)

Meghan Chapple-Brown

Director, Office of Sustainability, George Washington University

Related Links

International Bottled Water Association Video

The Story of Bottled Water

Comments

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Thanks for an informative show Ko Jo! For more info on the issue check out www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org and www.ewg.org

Wed, 03/21/2012 - 12:44pm

A "hydration station"??? Isn't that a water fountain? So stupid.

Thu, 03/22/2012 - 2:02pm
The Kojo Nnamdi Show is produced by member-supported WAMU 88.5 in Washington DC.