I read with interest the article entitled TRU Gets Closer To Ridding Campus Of Bottles, The Daily News, Feb. 28).

The piece includes information provided by Thompson Rivers University students’ union representatives about plastic beverage containers that is simply incorrect.

As independent research conducted in 2008 by CIAL Group and again in 2010 by Quantis International and filed with TRU Environment and Sustainability director Tom Owen will prove, plastic containers have a far lighter environmental footprint than aluminum, glass or paper alternatives.

Further, as 2002 EPA and 2009 Health Canada studies will show, plastic containers are made primarily from a natural gas derivative — not oil, and are not toxic.

Finally, as a 2012 Encorp Pacific report will indicate, aluminum, glass and plastic containers are within a couple of percentage points of one another when it comes to diversion from landfills in British Columbia and, together, almost 80 percent of them were recycled across the province last year.

In closing, Owen and the senior administration team at TRU are to be commended for requiring all stakeholders in this issue to come to the table with independent, scientifically researched studies rather than opinions found on anti-bottled water activist websites.

JOHN CHALLINOR II

Nestlé Waters Canada