Saving water, fuel

Monday, July 7, 2008 | 2:06 a.m.

The symbol of personal sacrifices that will be made as America shifts to better address environmental concerns may end up being a plastic milk jug.

Last month, such big-box stores as Costco and Sam’s Club rolled out a new gallon milk jug that is square, which makes it easier to stack and, therefore, allows it to take up less space on a truck. That translates to fewer trucks and less burning of fossil fuel.

The new square bottles also don’t have to be shipped in crates, as traditional jugs do, so there is no need to wash off the crates, saving millions of gallons of water annually.

Customer response, however, has been a bit sour. The new jug lacks a proper spout, they say, making it difficult to pour without spilling.

As one Ohio Sam’s Club customer succinctly put it: “I hate it,” she told The New York Times.

If asked outright whether society ought to work to conserve fossil fuel and water, most Americans likely would say yes.

But that enthusiasm seems to wane when we’re asked to use a funny-looking energy-efficient light bulb, purchase reusable cloth grocery bags, drive a hybrid car or, as now, change the manner in which we pour milk on our cereal in the morning.

It is the American way. People probably weren’t happy when dairies switched from glass bottles to plastic jugs. Before that, there probably were those who figured the milk ought to remain stored in the cow until it was needed.

Still, we Americans have proved ourselves an adaptable lot, even if we need a little push now and then. Recycling was a hard sell during the 1970s, but most people expect to do it on some level now.

Whether it’s how we light our homes, shop, drive to work or pour a glass of milk, the times they are a-changin’, out of necessity. We think it’s for the better. Just remember to use a cloth — not a paper — towel to wipe up that spilled milk.