The California Department of Conservation released a report May 29th that finds that the boom in bottled waters is causing environmental problems.
According to the report, more than 1 billion water bottles are winding up in the trash in California each year, and an estimated $26 million in unclaimed California Refund Value deposits annually.
"The sight of a water bottle in someone's hand has become as common as a cell phone," said Darryl Young, Director of the CDOC. "In California, one is usually in the right, and the other is in the left. What people don't realize is that these water bottles are recyclable and have detrimental environmental impacts if thrown in the trash."
According to the report, only 16 percent of polyethylene terephthalate water bottles sold in California are being recycled.