Want proof on how much I over think everything?
A few weeks ago, my husband bought a Klean Kanteen.
Now, you may remember that we are on the grad school budget. Which means our income is small, and therefore our expenses must be small, small, small. So basically he spent the next two weeks telling me how much he really did need the new water bottle and how much better it was than his old one. And how he got it half off at Amazon.
You know you’re in grad school when you spend 2 weeks justifying a $15 purchase.
It didn’t bother me that he bought a new one. The fact we have a million other water bottles kind of annoys me though. But here’s the problem, I started wanting a new water bottle. ‘Cause you know, I always want new things.
But like I said, we have water bottles. Don’t believe me? Currently we have:
1. An Eddie Bauer plastic water bottle (which doesn’t say BPA free on the label)
2. A Camelbak water bottle I stole from my sister so that I could take it on the plane (It is BPA free).
3. A metal water bottle that is actually one of our JV housemates, and I should probably return, even if its been a couple years.
4. An old Nalgene water, pre-BPA scare.
5 & 6. 2 Trek water bottles for our bikes.
7. My Sigg water bottle that I got for my birthday a couple years ago but I am currently missing the lid to. And its gotten pretty banged up. But isn’t it pretty?
8. A old plastic college water bottle that my husband agreed that I could donate to Goodwill.
9. My husband’s aforementioned water bottle.
So here’s the problem:
I don’t want to contribute to more trash. For my public health class, we just spent last week reading about waste management and so now I’m convinced I’m ruining the world every time I throw anything away. Well, not really, but kinda.
Also because of said public health class, I’m convinced that all toxins are killing me (and BPA has been linked to prostate cancer, so its not a stretch for me to imagine it’s causing my bladder problems).*
So I don’t want to buy a new water bottle, and I don’t want to drink out of any of our old BPA death traps. The solution? Buy a new cap from Sigg for my one that is missing a cap. Problem? It’s $7 to do so. For a mere twice as much, I could just get a new water bottle. But I’m trying to resist the urge to contribute to more trash, right?
Then I read this article. Apparently my Sigg has BPA in it too.
So I think I’m gonna be getting a new water bottle. But the problem is, what should I do with our old ones? Is it ethical to donate them to Goodwill? Should we recycle them? At least I can return our borrowed ones, I suppose. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
*My husband just pointed out that I don’t have a prostate. I do realize that. I’m just saying – they’re both organs, you know, who knows….
Return the stolen and borrowed water bottles, round up the rest and donate them to Goodwill or recycle them. Keep the best bottle and use it, without making a new purchase.
That was my original plan until I realized all of my water bottles had BPA in them.
backing up marquis on this.
Yeah, except I really don’t want to drink out of a water bottle that has BPA in it. The only 2 that don’t aren’t mine. (I do plan on returning the borrowed ones, unfortunately I live on the other side of the country so I won’t see my friend/sister till the spring).
I just feel like its kind of unethical to give something I know is unsafe to Goodwill you know? Or should I just do it and if someone wants to use it anyway, that’s their choice?
just do it. meanwhile, find yourself something that works.
I think you should return the ones that aren’t yours, then recycle the ones you can’t/don’t use anymore. Get yourself a new bottle — yeah, it’s more than you wanted to spend, but I think it’s worth the peace of mind you’ll get knowing you didn’t donate anything with BPA in it to someone else, and you’ll get to chalk it up to a learning experience!
There are so many uses for old water bottles besides drinking out of them. The Eddie Bauer probably has a larger opening…create a car emergency kit with it. Include matches, a safety blanket, flashlight, maybe a granola bar. Look at ones on line to select thoughtful safety items. Your sig bottle that you got for your birthday 2 years ago that is missing the lid is beautiful…use it as a vase! Keep one in your camping gear to be used to collect river water to put out a camp fire. Hang one outdoors to collect rain water to water your plants. Donate to Goodwill they too might have alternate uses for them.
If you feel you don’t have a safe one to drink out of…purchase a new one. YOu know you will take good care of it. You are a good steward of your resources and your health is important. Chemicals do throw our bodies out of balance. Skimp in another area.
You may want to read this study report: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/02/134196209/study-most-plastics-leach-hormone-like-chemicals
It’s making me rethink the whole BPA thing. Pretty much we would be better off with a breakable glass bottle the way I see it.
Yikes. I know you shouldn’t microwave plastic, but that makes me not want to eat anything that touches plastic ever.
I think you should get a new, BPA-free water bottle. It’s not a HUGE expense. And you have good reasons for buying a new one. But definitely recycle the other bottles! No one needs 29 thousand water bottles knocking around their homes.
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