I received several emails from Ken Cook, of the Environmental Working Group, one of my favorite watchdogs, regarding the State of New Jersey’s governmental use of plastic water bottles which is paid by taxpayer’s money. We have a wonderful water system in the state. So, why the spend?
Over the last couple of months, Governor Christie has been trying to balance the money and is slashing programs like no tomorrow. So, Gov, here is one more place you can save some money. Cook sent me an initial email stating:
“Using taxpayer dollars to buy bottled water for government offices and other non-emergency purposes squanders much-needed public money on an unnecessary product that harms the environment.
EWG Action Fund, in partnership with Corporate Accountability International, is urging Governor Christie to stop wasting public money on bottled water in New Jersey — and we need your help!”
It blows my mind when I attend any function and see the old plastic water bottles on the table. “But we recycle,” is what I hear. News Flash. It costs money to buy the bottles, they contain chemicals which are bad for your health, and PS, it cost money and consumes energy to recycle them. A little flick of the wrist to fill up a bottle and pitcher doesn’t hurt anyone.
Lead by example, Governor Christie, buy a reusable water bottle. (You can buy a stainless steel reusable water bottle here! By the way, Readers, you can too.)
And what about the plastic packaging? Let’s not forget about all that non-recyclable, landfill bound garbage.
So, join me and supporting the Environmental Working Group’s petition to tell Governor Christie to x-nay the plastic water bottles and delete this line item from the budget. Here is the email that I received. Do your part, New Jerseyeans:
Your response was amazing! Since last week more than 1,000 people in New Jersey have signed our petition asking Governor Christie to stop spending taxpayers’ money on bottled water for non-emergency purposes — like meetings in government offices.
Help us reach 1,500 signatures.
We will deliver your signatures to Governor Christie on July 13. We want him to know that you and many other New Jerseyans do not want their money wasted on an unnecessary product that harms the environment. Help us reach 1,500 signatures today by sharing the petition with your friends in New Jersey.
It’s easy to ask your friends to join you:
Share the petition on Twitter: It’s bad policy to spend scarce taxpayer $ on non-emergency #bottledwater. But NJ does. Thx to @ewgtoxics, I asked Gov Christie to stop. U should 2! http://bit.ly/signpetitionNJ
Post it on Facebook: I just asked Governor Christie to stop spending the state’s scarce $$ on non-emergency bottled water — it’s wasteful and unnecessary, especially in the current economy. Thanks to EWG Action Fund, you can ask him, too. Sign the petition today.
Forward this email to 10 of your friends and family in New Jersey: They can click here to tell Governor Christie to stop spending taxpayers’ money on bottled water for government offices and other non-emergency purposes.
Thank you for sharing this petition with your friends and family in New Jersey. We can’t make change without you.
Sincerely,
Ken Cook
President, EWG Action Fund”
Heck, while you are at it, just say “No” to plastic water bottles all together. Start by telling the Governor what you think.
Readers, how many meeting do you go to and see it littered with plastic water bottles? Government meetings, school board meetings, so on and so on?
Editor Note: I am affiliate of Gaiam who sells terrific reusable water bottles. So, I get a teensy amount of money for the purchase of something that is good for your health.
Photo by ricardo / zone41.net.
Matthew Smith says
June 22, 2010 at 8:39 pmthat is one of the easiest ways to cut costs, and be better for the environment. good post, and good luck.