Water bottles not an option

In the middle of the night, when you suddenly need a drink of water, you are forced to get out of bed and walk to the kitchen. Wouldn't it be a lot easier if you had a disposable water bottle at your bedside? Gulf News readers disagree.

Seerwan Ali Jaafar, an Iraqi expatriate, does not reuse plastic bottles.

He said: "My family purchases 500 millilitre bottles in packs. Once used, we dispose the bottles. During the day, I am in university for at least four hours and consume only one bottle. Therefore, I do not need to reuse."

When asked if he thought this was a waste, Jafar mentioned his preference for recycling.

He said: "Personally, I would rather recycle the bottles, than reuse them. I think there should be easier access to recycling facilities. The supermarkets could collect the bottles and water companies could pick them up."

Somya Grover, an Indian expatriate, prefers to use a glass bottle.

She said: "I carry a glass bottle around all day and refill water from the cooler. I might reuse plastic bottles during the day, but would not want to a day later. We all leave bottles in the car, where the heat might ruin them. A glass bottle is easier to wash."

Grover is a part of an environmental club at Heriot Watt University in Dubai.

She said: "The club, called Youth Club, organises campaigns to raise awareness about the environment. The glass bottle may be heavier, but safer than its plastic counterpart. The environment comes first."

Paul Nathaniel Bathan, a Filipino expatriate, favours plastic cups over bottles.

He said: "I personally think it is not hygienic to reuse plastic bottles, so I just use plastic cups to get water from the dispensers. At home, we have our own water dispenser and only need to purchase the five-gallon bottles. In the process, we avoid the waste of plastic bottles."