St Albans joins national Refill water bottle network
Visitors to St Albans can now refill their water bottles with tap water for free at a growing network of friendly cafes, shops, hotels and businesses.
The local scheme forms part of the national Refill campaign aimed at addressing the impact of single-use plastic bottles on the environment.
If businesses have a water cooler, a drinking water tap or a water jug, then they are eligible to take part in the scheme.
Businesses that want to offer free tap water can register their location on the ‘Refill App’ . This app is available to download to a smart phone by people looking for somewhere to refill their water bottle at: https://www.refill.org.uk/get-the-refill-app/
Businesses are also being encouraged to display a Refill St Albans sign in their window to let people know they are part of the scheme. Signs can be collected from the Council’s offices at the Civic Centre in St Peter’s Street, St Albans.
The scheme is supported by the Refill St Albans Partnership which includes Affinity Water, Plastic Free St Albans, St Albans BID and the Council. The Partnership is also working together to install two refill points in the City centre and at Verulamium Park by the end of 2018.
Cllr Daniel Chichester-Miles, Portfolio Holder for Environment for St Albans City and District Council; said:
Refill St Albans will make it easy for people to refill their water bottles. It will help them save money and feel confident about asking for drinking water, which should be accessible to anyone. The scheme will also reduce the waste and transport impacts of single-use plastic bottles.
We are working with partners to encourage businesses across the City to join Refill St Albans. By offering a water-bottle refill point, businesses are likely to find that more potential customers enter their premises. They will also improve their credibility rating as they will be perceived as a business that is doing the ‘right thing’.
Businesses are also being encouraged by Plastic Free St Albans to help reduce the use of single-use plastic straws and coffee cups, as well as balloons. Businesses providing eco-friendly straws and stirrers can apply to be listed on the Plastic Free St Albans website by emailing stalbansrefusethestraw@gmail.com.
To help reduce the use of single-use plastics, the District Council has stopped using disposable plastic cups at its offices. It is encouraging staff to use drinking glasses and water bottles instead.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Daniel Chichester-Miles, Portfolio Holder for Environment for St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819281, Email: cllr.d.chichester-miles@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson, Senior Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317, E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
Notes:
City to Sea launched Refill Bristol in September 2015 and there are now over 7,000 Refill points around the UK. More information about the national Refill campaign is available at: https://www.refill.org.uk