The Upper Grand District School Board has decided to delay a decision on banning the sale of bottled water in its schools.
Previously the board had requested a report “as soon as possible to eliminate the sale of bottled water from cafeterias and vending machines in all facilities by December 2009.”
However, after a visit from Michel McArthur, director of supply chain management with Nestlé Waters Canada, the board decided to push back that deadline and seemed to soften its stance on a possible ban.
A revised motion passed last week directs staff to “research and develop a report, including viable alternatives to bottled water, on the impact of a ban of bottled water sales from cafeterias and vending machines in all its facilities, and possible scenarios for implementation.”
The report is to be presented to the board by December 2009, which effectively delays a decision for at least a year. The board’s current exclusive contract with Pepsi – Aquafina is set to end next August.
Despite not having any products for sale in UGDSB schools, McArthur told trustees Nestlé is “firmly opposed” to banning the sale of bottled water in school vending machines and cafeterias.
“Frankly, we are disappointed about what is happening here tonight. It defies logic and common sense,” McArthur told the board.
“We find it disappointing that [the board], which is responsible for the education, health and well-being of children, is removing what is the most healthy beverage available to young people.”
He told the board almost 30 per cent of Canadian children are overweight or obese, are susceptible to diabetes, and may be the first generation of Canadians who do not outlive their parents.
That is particularly worrisome, McArthur added, considering research has shown the majority of bottled water drinkers have said they will revert to less healthy alternatives if bottled water is not available.
He added that if waste is a concern, his company, along with its industry partners, is proposes a “public spaces recycling program” at UGDSB facilities. He also proposed two school-level public awareness campaigns.
McArthur also distributed a letter to all trustees outlining what he called corrections to the “misinformation” provided to the board by trustee Mark Bailey, who proposed the ban of bottled water sales.
For instance, McArthur wondered why Bailey would say, “It requires more water to produce a plastic water bottle than it holds in water.”
According to Environment Canada, McArthur said, it takes 1.5 litres of water to produce one litre of bottled water, and by comparison it takes 183 litres of water to produce one eight ounce glass of milk.
