THE M.E.N. is giving away thousands of reusable bottles to encourage people to drink tap water.

Billions of plastic bottles are languishing on landfill sites and each takes up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.

We want to cut the rubbish caused by the three billion bottles of water drunk each year and cut the energy wasted moving them around the country, equivalent to the power used by 6,000 homes.

The bottles for life supplied by United Utilities and the M.E.N. can be used over and over again to drink tap water on the move. On Monday, we will be giving away 4,800 from stands across the city centre and a further 2,600 on Tuesday. They will also be available from the M.E.N. office in Scott Place, off Deansgate.

Shaun Robinson, of United Utilities, said: "The bottle for life uses the latest space-age technology in its lid. Used by astronauts on the International Space Station, the return valve closure will not drip, leak or spill. We've designed the bottle so people can still feel cool and fashionable with its sporty and chic look. The north-west's water supply has 99.9 per cent of tests carried out at customers' taps to meet standards for water quality and it's the best in the world."

The bottles are made from biodegradable plastic, so when thrown away they will cause less harm to the environment. Switching from bottled to tap water cuts costs for firms and individuals - drinking the recommended eight glasses a day costs about £500 for mineral water each year, but just £1 from the tap.

Councils in Greater Manchester spent more than £300,000 on bottled water last year, with Manchester's the largest bill at £93,000. Environment Minister and Oldham MP Phil Woolas backs the campaign, calling the bottled water trend `morally indefensible'. Manchester Blackley MP Graham Stringer, who has led a campaign to cut the 250,000 bottles bought by the Commons every year, also supports it.

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