As we've mentioned before, we're total Brita loyalists.
Most of the water we drink first runs through our Brita filtered pitcher and then, when the filter expires, we toss it out with the garbage.
It's one of those things we never thought too much about, until we heard about the Take Back the Filter Campaign.
That filter ... shouldn't it be recyclable?
Well, according to the people at Take Back the Filter, in Europe Brita does run a take back program for its filter cartridges. But here in the U.S.? No luck.
So, if you'd like to recycle your Brita filters, you can sign a petition or send a letter to Clorox (Brita's parent company) through TakeBacktheFilter.org.
image via TakeBacktheFilter.org
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I've also heard of people who re-use the filter by replacing the insides with their own filter concoction.
http://www.instructables.com/id/SPB6MEWFE6F2AY6/
(actually, I think I learned about this from right here on Apartment Therapy!)
-Jillian
http://www.theuselessconsumer.com
so wasteful. what's wrong with your tap water?
Ha! Here's what's wrong with our tap water:
"The report contends that traces of at least 15 pharmaceuticals or their byproducts — including hormones and mood stabilizers — have been discovered in the upstate watersheds that provide drinking water to the city, and that New York's drinking water has never been tested for pharmaceuticals."
Read the whole story that this blurb is from here:
http://www2.nysun.com/article/72602
and what a wonderful cycle it creates to make more waste and excuse it by pointing out existing pollution.
oh, and while the basic argument is pretty backwards, it's also worth noting that these home filters cannot remove the trace pharmaceuticals in the first place.