Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Oakland has made what it terms an "eco-conscious decision" to discontinue the sale and use of bottled water and instead offer corn-based compostable cups and sell reusable plastic bottles for filtered water in its cafe.

Phipps said the removal of bottled water is part of an on-going initiative to reduce its "carbon footprint" -- the amount of carbon produced and released by its operations. In 2005, when its environmentally certified welcome center opened, Phipps decided to exclusively sell only locally bottled water to reduce high energy costs associated with production and shipping.

Phipps was selling the bottled water for $1.75. It's selling the reusable bottles, which are dark green, are printed with the Phipps logo, and are similar to bicycle or sports water bottles, for $2.25.

"As a model of sustainability in the community we wish to educate our visitors with ways in which they can reduce human impact on the environment," said Richard V. Piacentini, Phipps' executive director. "Eliminating bottled water is another example of us going above and beyond our dedication to green buildings."

Phipps, which also banned the use of bottled water at all meetings and events in its buildings and on its grounds, is joining a trend away from plastic bottles, which environmental groups say produce plastic waste and use oil.

City governments in Seattle, San Francisco and Santa Barbara, Calif., have also banned purchases of bottled water. In 2007, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents more than 1,100 cities, passed a resolution questioning the need for municipal purchases of single-use water bottles while cities already spend $43 billion a year keeping their own water supplies clean.