a Bottle Dilemma
I bought my first Nalgene bottle probably 12 years ago, when Jennifer and I were living in Colorado (I still have it and take it to the gym everyday). I didn’t know they were “trendy” — I just knew that they held a lot of water and were supposed to be pretty much unbreakable.
But recent reports suggest that Nalgene bottles may not be so health-friendly. So, Jennifer and I are probably going to start switching over (I think there are a total of 5 Nalgene bottles in our house, so we can’t afford to do it all at one time) — and the mostly likely option is SIGG bottles. (Like Megan, I have a VOSS bottle as well, but I don’t take it out of the house much…I’m afraid of dropping it.)
So, here’s my ecological dilemma. What do I do with my old Nalgene bottles?
Stuff White People Like
#76 Bottles of Water
“Previously, the gold standard was the Nalgene bottle, however recent studies have shown the plastic can leak toxins into the water. Currently, white people on the cutting edge are really into metal bottles of water with a twist cap. It is recommended that you buy one of these as soon as possible.”
Jamin
February 27, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I would burn them in protest.
ben
February 27, 2008 at 2:17 pm
jamin…i know!
that post from “Stuff White People Like” is what set me off on a new bottle campaign this morning…it reminded me that my Nalgene is slowly killing me.
charliedean
February 27, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Because of the risk of hormones/chemicals leeching from Nalgene bottles, it is probably best NOT to give it to a thrift store but just recycle it. You could turn it into something fun like a planter or a dog food scooper (if you had one), but for both of those you’re also subjecting them to the chemicals. So recycling is the best option.
And – don’t burn it. That’s probably the worst idea!
Also – don’t forget about your kids. The chemicals leeching from Nalgene bottles are just ONE example of plastics, but most of kid’s sippy cups, etc. are also made with the same plastics. Sigg bottles OR Klean Kanteen bottles make sippy cup versions – and versions that will make your older kids feel ‘cool’ about drinking from a sippy cup still (they probably won’t even notice).
Because it will be expensive to slowly switch from the classic Nalgene bottles, I’d recommend finding cheap alternatives until you can switch. Voss is a good example. Even a good old canning jar with a lid works well too! Glass is an easy option for the short time. Say if you buy 2 Sigg bottles for you a Jen, then maybe a couple Voss bottles (only $2-3) to keep filled all the time in the fridge, you’ll always have some ready to ‘rotate’ in case you want cold water or don’t have your Sigg on hand.
A hint: avoid plastics 1,3,6, & 7 (Nalgene’s number)
Megan
February 27, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Are you kidding me? Bottles of water are killing people? entire families? Something must be done. Now.
Shawn
February 27, 2008 at 4:08 pm
It depends on the Nalgene, the white, milky color bottles are said to be safe, if it is the color hard plastic bottle then yes it is bad. Some say its a rumor all together. Nalgene says all of them are products are safe. It’s important to note that they make mostly containers for the healthcare sector. The FDA though not specifically talking about Nalgene have said the plastics that are used are safe, and that what does leach out is not enough to do any harm.
Charlie, there are many of us Nalgene lovers out there, you owe it to your water bottles to seek the truth on this.
Mizz
February 27, 2008 at 4:51 pm
dude, i’d be more worried about the nasty water you put into these killer bottles straight from your backwoods tap.
water from my knock-off eddie bauer, nalgene wannabe doesn’t taste like rotten eggs smell.
erichapman
February 27, 2008 at 8:33 pm
maybe you could install a pur water filter or a solar-powered reverse osmosis filter on the top of your nalgene to ensure contaminant and leach-free agua. and as Eric pointed out, i’m sure the nitrates from all the farm fields feeding your aquifer negate anything else coming from your plastics.
justin
February 28, 2008 at 11:15 am
Being a bit untrendy I offer the following…drink from the tap using a glass from the cupboard…drink from the water fountain at the club (free and usually cold)…drink a whole bunch of glasswater before leaving the house to drive somewhere so you don’t need a drink container duing the drive…splurge on camping trips and take prepackaged bottled water knowing you spend 99.9% of the year being eco-minded.
Of course this is coming from someone old enough to have spent a substainial part of his youth living in a house with window trim painted with lead paint, asbestos siding on the outside walls, and drinking straight from a hose on hot summer days (the water was likely coming through lead pipes).
RickL
February 28, 2008 at 12:51 pm
i think this is all a ploy to get us Nalgene bottle users to spend $25 on another water bottle. i don’t want to drink out of a metal bottle, it gives the water a funky taste and i don’t like the feel of it. i really dislike drinking out of a can, why would i pay $25 to do that everyday all day long??
plus i have been told that the toxins are only released when you heat up the plastic. i have never put my nalgene bottle in the microwave or put hot liquids in it, so i think i am fine.
besides everything releases toxins that are going to kill us.
Beth B
February 28, 2008 at 12:57 pm
The aluminum bottles actually have an epoxy liner, so they won’t taste like metal at all.
Tim Dunaway
February 28, 2008 at 5:33 pm
good to know…and the epoxy has no toxins in it?
Beth B
February 29, 2008 at 8:48 am
On the topic of water, how about when you wake up in the middle of the night so thirsty, and you see that glass of water or water bottle that could be weeks old, and you drink it. It tastes so good you don’t care how old it is.
Leslie
February 29, 2008 at 11:18 am
leslie that’s gross
ben
February 29, 2008 at 3:21 pm
leslie, thank you for your honesty. i do the same.
this week i feel cheap…and so will continue to use my nalgene…not entirely convinced that it’s a major emergency and that i’ll die tomorrow. truth be told, i’m just a little tired of my bottles that i’ve had forever…and that feels terribly lame.
and rick, i agree. i rarely buy bottled water. only if i’m travelling and at a gas station filling up, would i even consider it. otherwise i tend to drink tap water.
charliedean
March 3, 2008 at 10:56 am
for the record i was just KIDDING when i said that’s gross. i do it too sometimes.
ben
March 3, 2008 at 11:05 am
UV Ultra Violet…
as I said earlier…
UV Ultra Violet
February 26, 2009 at 5:04 pm