From the Council of Canadians

London environment committee supports bottled water ban

“London is one step closer to banning the sale of bottled water on city-owned property,” reported the London Free Press today. “The environment and transportation committee passed a recommendation for a ban at a meeting last night where some residents said the city should set a high environmental bar for itself.”

According to the article, “Jay Stanford, director of the city's environment and solid waste programs, gave a presentation about gradually phasing out the sale of plastic water bottles in city buildings, vending machines and some arenas.”

About 25 people showed up to the meeting, including members of the London chapter and executives from Nestle Waters Canada, who made a desperate attempt to kill the momentum toward a bottled water phase out.

“What should be of particular concern to the City of London is that the Probe [Research] study also indicated that about 60 percent of bottled water drinkers said they will revert to less healthy alternatives found in plastic beverage containers if bottled water isn't available,” said Nestle in a press release yesterday, referring to unconvincing statistics they presented to the committee.
But in a previous London Free Press article, Probe’s president, Scott MacKay, called the above statement “an inference at best,” saying there was no evidence to back it up.

“In December, [London city] council directed staff to consider the viability of eliminating the sale of bottled water at city facilities,” wrote the Free Press today. “Staff presented a proposal in May to phase out sales as tap water is made available through fountains.”

The motion, which was unanimously endorsed by the environment committee, will go to full council on Monday, August 18.

The Proposed timeline for the phase, according to the LFP:

- Sept. 1: City hall, Market Tower and A.J. Taylor building.
- Spring 2009: Golf courses, Storybook Gardens and city-operated concessions:
- Next 16 months: Vending machines and food services at arenas/community centres.

For a full list of municipal and school board bans across the country, both passed and in the works, visit the Council’s website here: http://www.canadians.org/water/issues/Bottle%20Bans/index.html.
You’ll find links to news article, resources, and letters sent by chapter members to their mayors and councilors, as well as the Council’s submission to the Toronto District School board from June 2008.

To read today’s LFP article, ‘Committee supports ban after harsh debate’: http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/08/12/6419591-sun.html

To read Nestle’s press release from yesterday: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2008/11/c3120.html

To read Monday’s LFP article, ‘City braces for bottle battle’: http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/08/11/6409071-sun.html