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Visitors to Woking Town Centre can now refill their water bottles with tap water for free through a growing network of friendly cafes, restaurants, shops and retail outlets, thanks to a new scheme launched today on National Refill Day (Thursday 27 September).
The national 'Refill' scheme, known locally as 'Refill Woking', aims to create a network of free drinking water refill points. The average adult buys more than three plastic water bottles every week* - a startling 175 bottles every year per person. In total, some 7.7 billion plastic bottles are bought across the UK each year, resulting in substantial amounts of single-use plastic waste ending up in our oceans.
City to Sea, a not-for-profit organisation headed by entrepreneur Natalie Fee, launched the award-winning Refill Scheme in 2015. It's estimated that the scheme, now being rolled out nationwide with support from Water UK and local water companies, will cut plastic bottle use by tens of millions each year, as well as substantially increasing the availability of high quality drinking water.
Cllr Beryl Hunwicks, Woking Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said: "We're really proud to be supporting the national 'Refill' scheme in Woking. With public awareness of plastic pollution at an all time high, now is the time to encourage people to change their behaviour by making it quick, easy and free to refill drinking bottles on the go, rather than purchase a disposable bottle of water that's creating more single-use plastic waste.
"I'd like to thank those local businesses who have already signed up to 'Refill Woking' as free refill stations and would encourage others to sign up and get involved. Businesses that do get involved are likely to see an increase in visitors to their premises."
Louise Musgrove, The Lightbox's Commercial Manager, said: "The Lightbox is delighted to be involved with Refill Woking and would encourage anyone who is passing to pop into our café and get a their bottle filled. As a building that takes our green credentials very seriously, we are happy to support any scheme that encourages less waste and highlights the issue with single use products."
Mala Nathan, Refill Regional Coordinator, added: "We're so excited that Woking has joined the Refill movement and making a real difference by reducing reliance on single-use plastics. Every time we refill a re-usable bottle we save our own money and the planet's resources, and all those individual refills add up to a huge impact. It's great to see so many local businesses supporting Refill Woking by signing up to provide free refills."
Visitors to Woking Town Centre wanting to refill their water bottle for free should look out for a blue 'Refill Woking' sticker in the window of participating premises. Alternatively, visitors can download the free 'Refill' app to find their nearest refill station by visiting www.refill.org.uk
Have you got the bottle?
On Thursday 27 September 2018, join the #RefillRevolution on National Refill Day by carrying a reusable bottle to show how easy it is to find free tap water on the go, save money and stop plastic pollution at source.
For more information about the 'Refill' scheme and a list of participating outlets, please visit www.woking.gov.uk/refillwoking
Businesses wish to get involved should email green@woking.gov.uk
Woking Borough Council would like to extend their thanks to Woking Shopping, The Lightbox and Araceli's for their early support of the scheme.
Participating premises
- Araceli's, Commercial Way
- Costa, Peacocks Shopping Centre
- Fuel Juice, Peacocks Shopping Centre
- La Papillon, Peacocks Shopping Centre
- Millie's Cookies, Peacocks Shopping Centre
Patisserie Valerie, Peacocks Shopping Centre
Pret A Manger, Peacocks Shopping Centre
Starbucks, Wolsey Walk
The Lightbox Cafe, Victoria Way