Aussie Town First to Ban Bottled Water

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - The small town of Bundanoon in New South Wales, Australia, has become the world's first town to officially ban commercially bottled water, according to The Sydney Morning Herald .

In July, residents voted 355 to one to ban the sale of bottled water in an effort to reduce the town's carbon footprint. Stores had to switch from stocking single-use bottles to selling bottles that are refillable for free at taps around the town.

"As was demonstrated by the intense media interest from all around the world, it's extremely heartening that our small town has become an international role model for grassroots action," shop owner Huw Kingston told local paper the Southern Highland News .

Bundanoon kicked off the "Bundy-on-Tap" initiative Saturday with a parade in which the free water stations were turned on. The four water stations around town will be open 24 hours a day, and stores will also offer free chilled water.

Environmentalists have expressed concern about the carbon footprint that empty water bottles leave. Last month a report commissioned by the British government found that the Houses of Parliament used more than 21,000 bottles of water each year, resulting in a carbon footprint of 12 tons.