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The International Bottled Water Association released the following statement:

A bill introduced in the Washington State Legislature to ban the use of "petroleum-based water bottles" (sized one liter and less) is the subject of a hearing before the House Select Committee on Environmental Health. The bill (HB 2422) unreasonably targets plastic bottled water containers and will make it more difficult for consumers to drink a very healthy beverage choice. Furthermore, passage of HB2422 will make it more difficult for consumers to drink bottled water in small, convenience sized plastic containers by forcing them to purchase their bottled water in neighboring states. This may result in lost jobs and capital investment and may bankrupt many small, struggling Washington companies.

Bottled water is growing in popularity because of its consistent quality, taste and convenience. Many people choose it over other beverages because it does not contain calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial flavors or colors, alcohol or other ingredients they want to avoid or moderate. Simply eliminating the safety and convenience of a healthy product, such as bottled water that is packaged in plastic, could cause consumers to purchase other, less healthful, beverage alternatives. The other beverages are predominately bottled in plastic containers and contain water as the primary ingredient. Any actions that prevent consumers from drinking water, whether from the bottle or from the tap, are not in the public's best interest.

Plastic beverage bottles are among the most recycled packaging in this country and beverage companies continue to reduce the amount of plastic used in their packaging. Rather than focusing on one beverage choice, it would make more sense for government officials to focus on improving recycling rates for all consumer packaging and still make available the healthful benefits of bottled water consumption.

Bottled water is one of thousands of packaged foods and beverages used by consumers every day and should be properly recycled through whatever system a local municipality has in place.

The bottled water industry, like many others in the food and beverage industry, has taken actions to reduce its environmental footprint through the use of ever lighter weight packaging and direct support and involvement in recycling educational and advocacy programs with our partners in the food and beverage industry, recycling organizations, and local governments.

It is critical to note that plastic bottled water bottles, as are all bottled water containers, are 100 percent recyclable; the key is to ensure that consumers have a convenient, comprehensive system in place so they can recycle. However, HB 2422 currently creates no actual direct recycling incentives.

In particular, PET plastic — the container type targeted by HB 2422, is one of the most recycled plastic resins worldwide and accounts for a very small part of the U.S. waste stream and comprise less than one-third of one percent of all waste produced in the US in 2005. However, the bottled water industry has a played positive role in helping to develop new solutions to managing solid waste throughout the U.S. This includes making major investments of time and resources with such groups as the National Recycling Partnership. These efforts are good for environment and good for business.

And what about the critical need for the safety and convenience of bottled water in plastic containers for consumers and rescue personnel affected by natural or man-made disasters? Clean, safe water is a critical need for citizens and first responders immediately following a natural disaster or other catastrophic event, and the availability of water from public water systems is often compromised in the aftermath of such an event. Bottled water is often the best option — or a key component of the solution to deliver clean safe drinking water quickly into affected areas. With passage of HB 2422, bottled water in durable, shatter-proof plastic bottles will not be available in a timely manner. The bottled water industry has always been at the forefront of relief efforts, responding immediately to the need for clean water during and after natural disasters and other catastrophic events (e.g., Hurricanes Andrew, Charlie, and Katrina, California wildfires, or the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center). Bottled water companies have donated millions of bottles of water in response to these types of catastrophes and, while some bottled water opponents believe bottled water should only exist to satisfy emergency and relief effort needs, the bottled water industry could not exist and sustain itself if this were its only purpose.

Other unfortunate aspects of HB 2422 include provisions that would encourage local governments and school districts to review their purchasing and use of petroleum-based water bottles and, when possible, limit the purchase of petroleum-based water bottles. The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) recognizes community drinking water systems in the State of Washington for a good job of providing safe drinking water to its citizens and stands ready to work with state and local leaders to address the need for safe drinking water for healthy communities.