There’s a healthier way than recycling to improve our environment, and now you can pledge to be a part of it. The Environmental Club at Skyline College is encouraging everyone to forget their plastic water bottle addictions and become more environmentally aware.

On Monday, Oct. 24 the Environmental Club at Skyline College presented the documentary “Tapped” (2009), directed by Stephanie Soechtig and Jason Lindsey, to inform viewers about the role of the bottled water industry. The documentary dissected all of the differences between tap and bottled water, explaining the effects on our health, pollution, climate change, and our society’s dependence on oil.

Amber Lincoln, the president of the Environmental Club, emphasized the importance of how California has some of the best tap water, and how we shouldn’t pay for something that we can always get for free.

“It’s important to us to lean students away from that cultural addiction to plastic water bottles that we all have…we want to show there (are) other alternatives,” said Lincoln. “We have some of the best tap water, there’s no reason we should be paying for something that we can get for free.”

The presentation also gave students the opportunity to sign a pledge to stop using plastic water bottles by using more environmentally friendly alternatives. All students were provided the opportunity to taste test tap water vs. bottled water. In appreciation for the students in attendance, free pizza was provided along with a raffle ticket, with which the club raffled off environmental friendly reusable water bottles to five lucky winners in attendance.

Skyline student Philip Cho was one of many students in attendance who sat through the documentary “Tapped.” After the club presentation and watching the “Tapped” documentary, Cho expressed his desire to encourage his friends to use environmental friendly water bottles.

“I don’t really drink bottled water, but I will probably talk to my friends to use less plastic bottled water,” Cho said.

If you’re interested in joining the Environmental Club, students are encouraged to attend club meetings every Wednesday at 2:30 p.m in room 6-203.