Refill (campaign)

Refill is a British environmental campaign that connects people to places they can eat, drink and shop with less plastic.[1] Using a location based app, Refill provides a network of points offering the public free tap water in the UK.[2] The network comprises high street retailers, cafes, restaurants, other businesses, museums, and local authorities.[2][3] The campaign aims to prevent waste created by single-use plastic water bottles, as well as increasing the availability of quality drinking water.[4]

Details

The idea for Refill came from Natalie Fee, who set up the community interest company City to Sea in order to launch Refill in Bristol in 2015.[5] City to Sea continues to organise it.[2][3][6]

People can either use a dedicated smartphone app to find Refill points, or look for signs outside participating organisations.[4][6][7]

As of March 2018 there were 5700 Refill points and it continues to be developed.[2] All establishments of Neal's Yard Remedies,[3] Costa Coffee,[6][7] Premier Inn,[6][7] Starbucks[8] and Pret a Manger[8] are participating.

Towns and cities in which Refill schemes operate

See also

References

  1. ^ "Free water in England to cut plastic waste". BBC News. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e Smithers, Rebecca (15 March 2018). "London trials free water bottle refills in bid to cut plastic waste". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "A Network Of Water Fountains Will Be Rolled Out In London To Cut Down On Single-Use Plastic". HuffPost UK. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  4. ^ a b c Smithers, Rebecca (25 January 2018). "Plastic waste: network of water refill points aims to tackle problem". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  5. ^ Taylor, Matthew (29 June 2017). "The Bristol refill-reuse bottle campaign that is spreading across Europe". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Free water refill points will be available in every major town and city in England by 2021". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  7. ^ a b c d Bryan, Nicola (10 February 2018). "Wales joins drinking fountain revival". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  8. ^ a b Environment Editor, Ben Webster (25 January 2018). "Coffee shops to offer free water in war on waste". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2018-09-07. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Free water refills to cut plastic waste". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-09-07.