50.   What do you think would probably be the result if the hostess got angry and scolded the son?

    A. It would make the embarrassing situation worse

    B. The son would refuse to serve the guests any more

    C. The son would talk back and make the mother all the more angry

    D. The guests would leave before the dinner was over

C

Not long ago, we argued in this space that because America has some of the best tap water available, it is time to start thinking twice about drinking commercially bottled water. One big reason is that a lot of petroleum is required to manufacture and transport the plastic bottles, thus adding to global warming and other environmental problems. Of course, in certain circumstances bottled water is necessary. It is essential during emergencies - think Katrina - and it is certainly a better alternative when the only other drinks come loaded with calories.

What the rising use of bottled water leaves us with, however, is a huge recycling problem. Of the mountain of individual plastic water bottles created by Americans each year - enough to hold more than seven billion gallons of water - less than one-fourth are sent to the recycling industry for a second round. That makes absolutely no sense for the environment or for the economy.

The recycling industry sees plastic water bottles as a major commodity because they can be turned into anything from fleece jackets to a very durable set of luggage. One reason so few water bottles are recycled is that except in a very few states, they cannot be redeemed at the local grocery store.

But recycling rates are significantly higher in the 11 states that pay customers a nickel (and in some cases a dime) if they return their bottle. But only three of these states - California, Hawaii and Maine - include water bottles. Passing new bottle laws or expanding old laws to include plastic bottles should be an easy call for most Legislatures. But the grocery and drink industry have been able to use their clout, and campaign funds, to keep that from happening. That needs to change.

There are other ways to encourage recycling. At many public places - ballgames or city parks, for example - it is often much easier to buy a bottle of water than to find a recycling bin to throw it away. And in some areas, like parts of Philadelphia, officials are experimenting with ways to pay homeowners by the pound for recycled trash, a trend definitely worth watching.

Of course, for most people, the simplest recycling solution of all might be to wash a plastic bottle out and refill it with fresh water from the tap.

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