1. Water Bottles

District 39 is considering possible alternatives to water bottles in the cafeterias and would like your input about options.

Water bottles were first introduced to the schools as a healthy alternative to juice. This was in response to parent requests.

Over the past few years an increasing number of parents have expressed concerns about the environmental impacts of the large number or bottles used and the amount of waste generated.

Here are a few water bottle facts:

* D39 sells over 100,000 water bottles a year.
* At the elementary schools, students often take only a few sips and throw the rest away.
* Some water bottles are not being recycled because of the number of students moving through the cafeteria in short periods of time and the lack of monitoring.
* Sales of water bottles generate significant income for the district each year; current costs for grades 1-6 (10 oz) .50, grades 7-8 (16.9 oz) $1.00
* The plastics in water bottles are petroleum-based, resulting in environmental degradation during production as well as during recycling.
* Water bottles take 500-1,000 years to decompose when exposed to air. If compacted in a landfill they do not decompose.

Please give your opinion about water bottles by answering the following questions:

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* 1. Select the current school/schools where your children attend:

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* 2. Should District 39 sell water bottles at lunch?

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* 3. In order of preference, which of these alternatives would you support?

  First Choice Second Choice Third Choice Fourth Choice Fifth Choice Sixth Choice
Use current drinking fountains
Encourage the use of reusable water bottles brought from home
Water coolers with compostable cups that carry a small charge (.10)
Drinking fountains modified with water dispenser; used with compostable cups (small charge, .10)
Pitchers of water with compostable cup (small charge, .10)
Water bottles with less petroleum in the plastic (compostable)

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* 4. Do you have any other areas relating to the environment for which you would like to see changes in District 39? If so please review the following categories and give your input.

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* 5. Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?

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