ABOUT
Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Enviroblog is a project of EWG Action Fund.
FEED
An EWG podcast for environmental health news on the go.
TIPS
Did we miss something? Email Enviroblg.
BLOGROLL
STAY CONNECTED
Get our monthly eNewsletter, action alerts, & environmental tips. [Privacy policy, About EWG]
Consumers to FDA: Be there or be square
Toxic cosmetics in teenage girls
FEATURED
Elected officials MIA; Instead Wal-Mart and Burger King protecting your health
Back to school: Are we ready? Are we non-toxic?
Fire retardants: Disproportionate risk to small children
Lead: Celebrate its ban, but don't cross it off your list
7 ways to reduce your exposure to PBDEs
Ask EWG
What can I do about fluoride in my water?
What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?
Are stainless steel water bottles safe?
Is mineral-based makeup safer?
SEARCH
« EWG pet health study spurs launch of new organization | Main | But it's "clean coal" isn't it? »
Tell Clorox: Take back the filter!
We're always telling you to filter your water 'round these parts. It's true, a good carbon filter will get rid of most common pollutants (though not all), and they're a lot less expensive than a reverse-osmosis system. But every couple of months or so, you're left with a grit-filled hunk of plastic that can't be recycled. There's nothing to do with an old filter but throw it out -- and that hardly seems eco-friendly.
Unless you live in Europe, where the German company that makes Brita pitcher and faucet-mounted filter systems has created a filter takeback system. Returned, used filters are taken apart and reused or recycled. Unfortunately Clorox, who hold Brita's distribution license in the U.S., has no such program.
Enter the incomparable Beth Terry. In her quest to rid her life of plastic trash, those Brita filters were becoming a roadblock. Apparently she decided the roadblock needed to come down. Now, with a team of concerned citizens from across the country, Beth has created the Take Back the Filter campaign -- because if they can do it in Europe, there's no reason they can't do it here. Go to the website to sign the petition and write a letter to Clorox execs. You can even send your used filters to the Take Back the Filter team, and they'll deliver them en masse to Clorox!
We shouldn't have to choose between clean water and not creating trash. Tell Clorox to Take Back the Filter!
Comments
Europe is good with this "cradle to grave" concept of corporate responsibility to the environment. Not so much so in the US. This is great---I'll definitely sign the pledge. I stopped using Brita filters years ago b/c I thought they were wasteful and largely unnecessary. I think tap water tastes fine in Rochester, NY.
Posted by: Steven | April 21, 2008 12:56 AM
Amanda, don't you mean "Cradle to Cradle"? Cradle to grave is what we practice in the US. All products eventually being "buried" as waste instead of reused to form a new cycle of product.
Posted by: Erik | April 25, 2008 8:40 AM
Erik, I think you must be referring to Steven's comment, but you're right -- he must have meant cradle-to-cradle.
Posted by: Amanda | April 25, 2008 1:25 PM