The sale of bottled water has been the environmentalist’s nightmare for quite some time now.  By now, I’m sure most people either 1) agree with the absurdities of indulging in such a useless product 2) are sick of hearing about it. So without going too deep into my personal qualms of buying hundreds of something when one could buy just a single something, I would like to focus on one specific issue that we can all work towards resolving: allowing reusable water bottles in the Big House.

Obviously throughout the four hours of standing, cheering, dancing and jeering, over a hundred thousand fans will get thirsty and need more than a sip of water from the drinking fountains. Though on the surface it seems like good revenue for the concession stands, allowing them to set the price for a water bottle to $3, it is unquestionably preposterous.

First of all, the profit from wattle bottle sales does not greatly benefit the Big House because of the access waste it brings. This is extremely costly, as the stadium has to pay by the pound of waste left over after games. Keep in mind that on average, over 15 tons of waste is collected in a single football game. Allowing reusable water bottles into the stadium would save money by saving not only waste, but a great deal of energy and oil. Despite popular belief, recycling isn’t all it’s cracked out to be. Don’t get me wrong, everyone should recycle. However, not producing waste in the first place is far more sustainable than having to reprocess it again.

Additionally, the amount of waste that comes from the production and transportation of bottled water is ludicrous. Believe it or not, the amount of oil that is put into a single water bottle could fill up approximately 1/3 of the bottle itself. This waste is unnecessary and easily avoidable: reusable water bottles.

The only argument that can be made against allowing reusable bottles in the stadium is the concern of alcohol getting smuggled in by these bottles. This is easily avoidable by ensuring the bottles are empty while entering the stadium. This may include an extra few seconds in line before the game, but the benefits will far outweigh the cost.

We claim to be the leaders and the best. Now’s lets prove it. To contribute to the cause and help bring reusable water bottles into the Big House, sign this petition. Also, if you haven’t already, read more about the debate and outcome of the water bottle ban in Ann Arbor by checking out our past issue on the topic.

By: Lauren Opatowski

(Photos by Richard Retyi, U-M Athletics)

2 Comments

• Anonymous says:

  February 20, 2012 at 5:28 pm

  Great points! I’m going to sign the petition RIGHT NOW!

  Reply
• Anonymous says:

  February 17, 2012 at 3:31 pm

  15 tons???

  yeah! Just because recycling’s ‘green’ and better than simply trashing, doesn’t mean that it’s creating any sustainable difference. it’s just slowin down the rate of waste. go reusable bottles!

  Reply