Environmental costs of bottled water

Australians bought 250 million litres of bottled water in 2006 which produced approximately 60 000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) is leading NSW by example in considering the environmental costs of bottled water. DECC has recently adopted a policy of only purchasing bottled water where there is an occupational health and safety risk.

The policy also encourages DECC staff to think twice before purchasing their own bottled water and to drink tap water except where there is a health risk.