Beaconsfield’s pledge: watershed for one community

Jennifer Helen Shenouda

Since pledging to cut down on plastic waste last month, the City of Beaconsfield has handed out 350 reusable water bottles and counting.

During the city’s Heritage Days, June 24 to July 1, mayor Bob Benedetti asked the citizens of Beaconsfield to take the tap water pledge, essentially giving their oath to stop drinking bottled water for at least a year. In return the company Rubbermaid donated 1,000 reusable bottles for the pledging families to utilize instead of resorting to single use bottles.

It was expected this initiative would heighten the awareness of sustainable methods, and send an overall healthy message to Beaconsfield households about the benefits of being waste-conscious and curbing excessive consumption.

Kate Coulter, city councillor and chair of the Beaconsfield Environmental Committee, said that since the pledge commenced, over 350 reusable water bottles have been passed out, and the number continues to grow as they are distributed at all community events.

It also helps that with the cooperation of vendors on site, no one is able to sell bottled water for profit, she said. Coulter added she was pleased with the response from the community, but pointed out it is still “hard to judge” what the long-term effect of this pledge will be. Asked about a letter of concern about the ban that was sent to the mayor from Nestlé Waters Canada President Gail Cosman, Coulter assured it did not change the pledge in any way, shape or form.

Cutting down on a huge source of municipal waste with the co-operation of the council and the citizens of Beaconsfield has proved inspiring beyond the city’s limits. Coulter said Benedetti has received calls from across Canada.

She had a message for neighbouring municipalities, “I would certainly encourage other communities to do the same thing. Take a stand against single-use water bottles. They are so many better options out there,” she said.