Tories Bottle It!

4.47.03pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Apr 2008

A Liberal Democrat motion to use tap water instead of bottled at County meetings was unceremoniously washed out by the Tories today. Lib Dem Councillor Roz Smith had brought the motion to reduce the Council's carbon footprint, an aim which the Conservative administration supposedly supports.

Roz said, "To bottle, transport, dispose of and even to recycle bottled water containers requires a massive amount of energy. I think it is environmental madness. Public tap water has to meet strict quality standards - bottled water does not. So why not make a small step to care for the environment and stop buying expensive bottled water?"

The motion read:

"Council notes that:

(a) the Drinking Water Inspectorate ensures that water supplied by Thames Water is of high quality;

(b) transporting bottled water increases carbon emissions and creates billions of glass and plastic bottles, which then require recycling or end up in landfill; and

(c) tap water can be easily filtered, chilled and put into reusable containers, thus reducing waste, saving money and cutting carbon emissions.

Council resolves to ask the Cabinet to consider:

(a) stopping purchasing bottled water for council offices and council meetings;

(b) providing chilled, filtered tap water as an alternative, and, where practical and financially viable; and

(c) replacing any bottled water coolers with water fountains or supply filtered water coolers which can be refilled with tap water."