“Drink more water” is a prescription that for too many people around the world is easier said than done. As it stands, one in ten people (663 million people - twice the population of the United States) are currently living without access to safe water. Cited by the World Economic Forum as being the #1 global risk to society in terms of devastation and impact, this water crisis stands in the way of the health, safety and economic empowerment of people in both developing countries and first world nations.

In the United States, we currently recycle only about 34 percent of our waste. A lot of people don't realize that recycling is not only good for the environment, it's good for your wallet too.

Drinking more water helps your health in more ways than one: it replenishes fluids in muscles and tissues throughout the day and post-workout; it satisfies your thirst, which can sometimes be mistaken for hunger and cause you to inadvertently eat more than you need; it alleviates signs of dehydration like fatigue, brain fog, and headaches. I'm lucky to live in a municipality with great-tasting, safe drinking water straight from the tap, and there's filtered water at the office and the barre studio. But if that's not the case where you live, getting your required eight glasses a day becomes more challenging. The solution?

Have you ever thought about your drinking water? I mean…really thought about it? On one hand, we are incredibly blessed here in our country and we have access to clean, safe drinking water every single day. That is AMAZING. On the other hand, our drinking water is still polluted. It is polluted with things such as lead, mercury, pesticides, chlorine, etc. When you put it this way, our drinking water might not sound quite as great as we once thought.

Have you ever thought about your drinking water? I mean…really thought about it? On one hand, we are incredibly blessed here in our country and we have access to clean, safe drinking water every single day. That is AMAZING. On the other hand, our drinking water is still polluted. It is polluted with things such as lead, mercury, pesticides, chlorine, etc. When you put it this way, our drinking water might not sound quite as great as we once thought.

Water filters can reduce plastic bottle use, but also be tricky to dispose of. Thankfully, the manufacturer may already offer an easy solution.   Dear Recyclebank: Can water filters be recycled? I called my local sanitation department, and they were baffled and promised to get back to me. The specific brand name I have is Brita. They are plastic and filled with black sand. –Ila Dear Ila: With niche products such as at-home water filters, it’s a good idea to check with the manufacturer to see if they have a mail-in program you can take advantage of. As it turns out, Brita has partnered with TerraCycle to take back used Brita products for recycling. This program is free to consumers who sign up, and includes a prepaid shipping label to cover your shipping costs. You can also gain Terracycle points for your efforts, which can be redeemed for charitable gifts or product bundles. Water filters aren’t the only items accepted; packaging, pitchers, and even reusable water bottles can be sent as well. The items are processed and turned into all sorts of new products, from gardening equipment to outdoor furniture. You can find out more about the program on the Brita and TerraCycle websites. Brita isn’t the only brand that has adopted this solution. PUR and Everpure have also partnered with Terracycle.

PUR Water Filtration Pitchers and Faucet Filtration Systems, from Helen of Troy Health and Home, officially launches on World Water Day (March 22, 2017) at an event featuring Dr. David Suzuki as guest of honour and keynote speaker. Dr. David Suzuki will address the individual responsibility each Canadian has to the environment, and more specifically water quality. Mr. Michael Mitchell from PUR, will discuss the next generation of water filtration systems certified to remove 99% of lead, and more specifically, MAXION^® Filter Technology – PUR’s unique formulation approach for blending carbon and ion exchange materials for maximum contaminant reduction. TerraCycle will officially launch and discuss its corporate and environmental responsibility partnership with PUR.

Whether you like it or not, bottled water is here to stay. It’s portable, accessible and a convenient way to stay healthy with fresh, purified water every day. Unfortunately, Americans throw out around 60 million of these plastic bottles every single day. Thankfully there are plenty of ways to stem the tide of this massive waste stream. By making simple, versatile swaps, you can stay hydrated all year without ever touching a disposable water bottle again. While Traveling It’s important to be mindful of your intake of liquids while traveling, no matter the weather. By replacing your disposable water bottle with a refillable alternative throughout your travels, you can even circumvent some of the rules and regulations that come with exploring in transit. For example, TSA regulations stipulate that liquid carry-on items can be no larger than 3.4 oz. per item—everyone forgets that water bottles fall into this category! Unopened or not, standard sizes for bottled water averages at around 17 oz., or five times that maximum. Airport security will not allow full water bottles, but an empty reusable bottle can be filled once you go through. Many airports even have water stations especially built to fill your bottle to the top with clean, filtered water. For Sports From professional leagues and the neighborhood team, to the high school intramural and little league sports, athletes need a lot of water, and they need it to be accessible. Before games, during practice and after matches are all good times to take a sip, whether your sport has you flying solo or chasing glory in a group, indoors and outdoors. Bottled water can be easy to cart around and dole out to the crowd, but there are other ways to get your drink on with clean, nourishing H2O. If you’re an athlete or even just watching the game, bring a reusable water bottle to events. Even better: get a reusable bottle with a built-in water filter and refill at the tap. Athletes and their fans consume water at such a rate that larger quantities need to be available, and bottles aren’t the only answer. Getting a faucet filtration system, or a water pitcher or dispenser with a filter like those sold by PUR, can easily fill up a 5-gallon water cooler and other water bottles present at the game. At Parties There’s always a reason to come together or celebrate year-round, especially during the fall and holiday seasons, and the most important part of any gathering is refreshments. Handing out bottles of water from the cooler or fridge can be a convenient way to keep your guests sipping, but keeping something like a PUR water pitcher with a filter allows guests to write their name on a cup and refill it over and over. A faucet adapter is another convenient way to keep guests happy and hydrated. Making big quantities of drinks like lemonade or punch is a breeze with a renewing supply of filtered water. At Concerts and Festivals Live music and outdoor events like concerts and festivals have the makings of incredible lifelong memories, but if you don’t eat and hydrate right, you’re going to have a bad time. Standing in line, walking in the sun, dancing it out and holding your spot by the barricade takes its toll on the body, and the most important thing you can do is keep your fluids up. Bottled water and other concessions are sold at most events of this type, but as one could imagine, disposable products tend to litter the ground at large events and festivals. Thankfully, many concerts and festivals now allow you to bring in a refillable Camelback or bottle, and have on-sight refilling stations. Keep in mind that event staff may not always allow you to bring a full bottle of any liquid into the venue, so you may want to keep your refillable bottles empty when going through security, and refilling once inside. At Home We are made of 50 – 65% water and need to replenish it constantly, no matter what we are doing or where we are. Whether its dinner or game night, filtered water is a healthy, affordable way to keep you hydrated without accumulating a pile of plastic bottles in your trash bin. As an added bonus, companies like PUR offer water filtration systems such as pitchers, faucet adapters and refill packs that are even recyclable through TerraCycle. You stay hydrated, save money, and the waste is diverted from the landfill. Be it glass, insulated, stainless steel or BPA-free plastic, reusable alternatives to bottled water come in all shapes and sizes. What’s your favorite?

VILLA PARK – Villa Park’s Environmental Concerns Commission will offer a recycling drop-off location Sept. 10 during the village’s Oktoberfest. The Environmental Concerns Commission also will be running a booth from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at Oktoberfest to educate patrons about what products are recyclable. Stop by the commission’s booth to get information about its recycling efforts and other environmental issues and learn what items can be recycled curbside. Attendees can drop off pens, mechanical pencils, markers, highlighters, crayons – used, new, broken and whole – Brita and PUR pitchers, filters, packaging, faucet mounts and adapters and Brita bottles. The crayons will be taken to the local nonprofit SCARCE. The other items will be sent to the international company Terracycle. It’s “widely considered the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of nonrecyclable, post-consumer waste,” according to its website Terracycle.com.

Getting inspired to go green can be a challenge, even for the most earth-conscious individual. Sometimes, however, summoning that motivation starts with smaller, practical changes to your lifestyle. Whether that means switching from paper to cloth towels, conserving water, or abandoning disposable cutlery in favor of durable alternatives, “going green” doesn’t have to be an uphill battle.