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Bottled Water

The issue with bottled water

Why do we continue to buy a product that generates an enormous volume of waste, is derived from fossil fuels and can only be recycled a limited number of times?

Australia is home to the world’s most expensive bottled water, yet we have the second highest consumption rate per capita, a UN Report has revealed.

Although most Australians can access extremely good, safe drinking water straight from the tap, on average, each Australian spent about $580 on bottled water in 2021. This makes it one of the most common and expensive single-use purchases in the country.

THE PROBLEM

Unlike tap water, producing bottled water is an expensive, resource-heavy process that requires crude oil for plastic and extra water. Numerous blind tests have shown many people can’t tell the difference between bottle and tap. Although plastic bottles are recyclable, many end up in landfill or as litter. When littered they often end up in the sea where they break up into small pieces, killing marine life that mistake them for food.

Water extracted from springs can deplete the aquifer, which can have consequences for local people, flora and fauna. It can take up to 3L of water and 1L of oil to produce just 1L of water. The transportation of water around the world requires energy, which is mostly created by burning fossil fuels.

And bottled water is expensive. Over 90% of the cost of a water bottle can be traced back to the bottle, lid and label. You can save all that money by drinking tap water, and rest assured, drinking tap water in Australia is completely safe. With about 250 rigorous guidelines, developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council, everything from metals to microbiology is covered.

What can you do?

Together we can help reduce the amount of waste from plastic bottles.

Choose to reuse

Grab a reusable bottle and carry it wherever you go. You can stay hydrated while saving money and the planet!

Make your own sparkles

Drinking tap water shouldn’t make you feel flat. Investing in a SodaStream lets you make sparkling water at home. By 2025, SodaStream has saved up to 76 billion single-use plastic bottles from our planet.

Check out a SodaStream

Talk to your council

Ask your local council to install water fountains to allow people to refill reusable bottles.

Check out the City of Sydney’s handy map of bubblers as a guide.

Bubbler Map

Cash in and recycle

Support container deposit legislation in your state! Every state in Australia now has a Container Deposit Scheme.

Learn more about Container Deposit Schemes and how you and the environment can benefit taking part!

Pick it up!

Don’t just walk past plastic bottles you see, pick them up and get them into recycling. Without you, they can remain in the environment for over 1000 years.

You can create a Clean Up event any day of the year! Learn more and register today.

Be the Change

Australians are creating more waste than ever before. As one of the country’s most recognised and trusted environmental organisations, Clean Up Australia is dedicated to creating positive change. But we can’t do it alone.

We pledge 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly to empowering Australians to take action for the environment.

Donate Today