Environmentalists Critical of State’s Bottled Water Tab

Environmental groups are criticizing state government for spending more than $1 million on bottled water for Massachusetts state employees last year

Environmental groups are criticizing state government for spending more than $1 million on bottled water for Massachusetts state employees last year.

The Boston Herald reports that the $1.1 million tab for 2018 is down slightly from 2017, but up 23 percent in five years.

Kirstie Pecci, director of the Zero Waste Project at the Conservation Law Foundation, called the bottled water tab "a tremendous waste of resources and money."

She says the state would save money by installing water refill stations in government buildings.

The state's Operational Services Division, which manages state contracts, says water vendors offer environmentally-friendly options that reuse five-gallon bottles.

Two bills that would have banned the state from spending money on bottled water have failed in the legislature in recent years.