Refill Aylesbury officially launched on Saturday 21 October and is a campaign designed to reduce the use of single use plastic water bottles and instead encourage people to use refillable bottles -that can be refilled with tap water free of charge at a growing number of Refill Stations across Aylesbury

Instigated by local campaigner Michael Fryer, Refill Aylesbury is being actively supported by Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership, Aylesbury Town Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council – and by the more than 40 local businesses that have already signed up to the scheme.

As a visitor to Aylesbury you can play your part too. Go to the ‘App Store’ on your phone and download the Refill App. Using this App will enable you to locate your nearest Refill Station, where you can have your water bottle refilled free of charge. With so many places joining the scheme nationally there can be a bit of a delay between a business signing up and appearing on the App – so also look out for the Refill water-drop logo on business doorways and windows.

So why should you care?

  • Protect the environment: one third of all plastic pollution in our oceans is discarded plastic bottles
  • Protect wildlife: up to 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed annually by plastic pollution
  • Help combat climate change: it’s been estimated that the production and incineration of plastic bottles produces 233,000 tones of CO2 a year in the UK and 400 million tonnes globally
  • Save money: tap water is cheaper than bottled water
  • Water quality: the regulations governing the quality of tap water are far more stringent than those relating to bottled water
  • Health & wellbeing: keeping hydrated is essential to good health – having a bottle of water to hand can help make sure you drink enough water to keep healthy

So next time you Visit Aylesbury – bring your refillable bottle. Help to keep Aylesbury free of plastic pollution – and help protect the local and global environment.

Find out more about Refill here and follow the progress of Refill Aylesbury on Facebook and on Twitter: @RefillAylesbury

Picture shows (l to r): Cllr Julie Ward, AVDC Cabinet Member; Michael Fryer, Refill Aylesbury;Cllr Mike Smith, Mayor of Aylesbury at the official launch of Refill Aylesbury