Tossing water bottles? Think again: Lug a Jug!
Refills offered as campus environmental initiative

Gonzaga Bulletin
Tim Bross 1/26/07

When Gonzaga senior Brian Estes realized that Americans threw away 90 percent of the plastic water bottles they purchased, he decided to find a remedy for this environmental misstep. Now he's posing this simple question to Gonzaga students:

Why not lug a jug instead?

The Lug a Jug! Initiative is a project led by Estes that encourages students to use refill water bottles instead of buying bottled water. Lug a Jug! is part of the overarching Gonzaga Campaign for a Responsible Footprint, which is coordinated by Student Activities and GSBA.

Hopefully both will become issues that Gonzaga cares about, says Estes.

The soaring consumption of bottled water is an issue Estes wants to bring to light. About 10 million plastic bottles are tossed every year, according to a 2005 Sierra Club report. Estes says the Gonzaga community trashes about 175,000 water bottles a year.

Estes worked with David Lindsay, director of student activities, to form a plan to urge students to take a proactive and responsible approach to water consumption.

"We keep talking about educating the people the world needs most. Part of that is: 'What am I doing to the world,' " Lindsay said.

One way to minimize our impact is to be more mindful of what we are consuming, according to Lindsay.

"It's astounding the amount of trash this one entity is making," Lindsay said, alluding to the bottled-water industry.

The solution to the problem, according to both Lindsay and Estes, is easy. Use a refillable water bottle, such as the popular Nalgene brand, and encourage friends and family members to do the same.

"We want to grow this initiative," Lindsay said. "This is our starting point."

Estes agreed.

"This is an attempt to engage everyone in the Gonzaga community in regards to the environment," he said.

The Lug a Jug! Initiative includes a water-cooler type dispenser located on the main floor of the Crosby Student Center near the Help Desk. Culligan, a water-filtration company, will deliver the water every two weeks. The funding is provided by Student Activities and GSBA.

While the water cooler is available to the entire Gonzaga community, both Lindsay and Estes said there's nothing wrong with water right out of the tap in Spokane. Lindsay pointed to the Sierra Club report that also showed that tap water is more regulated than bottled water.

The Spokane County water resources manager, Robert Lindsay (no relation to David Lindsay), confirmed the Sierra Club report.

"Spokane's tap water is very clean," Robert Lindsay said. "The drinking water has to achieve a higher level of water quality than water bottled for commercial resale."

Robert Lindsay suggested the lack of needing to drink bottled water. "In most instances it's just tap water repackaged," he said.

Estes said he hopes that students who continue to buy bottled water take advantage of recycling bins located throughout campus. However, Estes pointed out that often, recycled plastic is lumped with the other trash at disposal stations. Using a refillable water bottle, according to Estes, is the best policy.

For students who use refillable water bottles, Estes said he hopes to have bumper stickers produced soon for their containers.

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