Bob McDonnell, bottle water ban reversal, vending, vending machine, vending machine business
RICHMOND, VA -- Virginia's state government agencies can once again buy single-serve bottled water for their employees, thanks to Gov. Bob McDonnell's reversal of a ban imposed by his predecessor.
Former Gov. Tim Kaine's prohibition allowed the state to buy bottled water only in cases of emergencies or for health reasons. But McDonnell, who took office last January, felt the mandate would hurt local bottled water manufacturers.
McDonnell's executive order also directs that state agencies recycle, and provide containers so that their employees can recycle. The governor retained other "green" components of Kaine's plan, including a policy that asks state employees to turn off lights and carpool whenever possible.
"Although the industry financial impact is unclear if a [bottled water] ban was imposed, businesses in Virginia would definitely have been crippled," said the Virginia Automatic Merchandising Association in a letter to its members. "This industry has a direct economic impact of 3,719 jobs and more than $1 million in wages and spending in Virginia."
