Thirsting for an ecological alternative.

Concerned about the problems associated with recycling the three-and five-gallon containers used with home and water office coolers, Primo Water has introduced a new "two-way" bottle that consumers can return to the company's stores for refilling and recycling.

The bulk water containers used with water coolers can be too big to be handled properly by the sorting equipment used by recyclers. Recycling plant operators may have to invest as much as $300 million for additional collection and processing equipment to properly handle such containers, according to Primo Water.

Primo introduced the "two-way" bottles in May of 2005. Consumers simply exchange empty three- and five-gallon Primo Water bottles for full ones at any Primo Water display found in retail stores. The company then cleans and reuses the empties or grinds them down prior to recycling to avoid facility issues.

"With more than 350 million bulk water bottles being used by homes and offices today, the potential environmental issues created by a one-way proposition are staggering," Billy Prim, founder and CEO of Primo Water, says. "We do not believe that consumers who are interested in a healthier lifestyle will tolerate doing something that's good for their bodies yet bad for the environment."

More information about Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Primo Water is available at www.primowater.com or by calling (877) COOLER-0.