Environment

University of Winnipeg bans bottled water sales

by Amy Judd | March 25, 2009 at 12:52 pm

134 views | 4 Recommendations | 3 comments

The University of Winnipeg has become the first in Canada to ban the sale of bottled water on their campus, after a student vote was 3:1 in favour.

The annual sales were about 35,000 bottles, and while this will affect the profits of the cafeterias and vending machines, more water fountains will be installed and the tap water will be checked to ensure it is safe.

The Washington University in St. Louis was the first to ban bottled water in the US, and the University of Leeds was the UK, but this is the first one in Canada.

As reported in the Toronto Globe and Mail , the bottled water industry in North America claims that these bans will cause students to buy other bottled drinks which will increase their intake of sugars and artificial sweeteners and lead to a less healthy lifestyle. The ban at Leeds University was called "a shame, removing the right to choose" by the National Hydration Council in the UK as quoted in The Guardian newspaper.

All students will get a free resuable water bottle this fall so that they have something to fill up with water.
It was found that less than 25% of the bottles were recycled and the rest was left in the landfill.
Also, the production of bottled water takes twice as much water in the production than is sold in the bottle.

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mtammas

at 20:12 on March 25th, 2009

Yes!!!

Stevens (not verified)

at 04:56 on March 31st, 2009

Hi, it is a very good article,It was found that less than 25% of the bottles were recycled and the rest was left in the landfill.Also, the production of bottled water takes twice as much water in the production than is sold in the bottle

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Stevens

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