A SCHEME to reduce plastic use by making it easier to refill your water bottle on-the-go will take to shop windows next month.
Plastic Free Llangollen (PFL), a plastic-free support group, has committed more than a dozen businesses to a new scheme that allows people to refill their water bottle in shops and businesses in the town free of charge.
The scheme forms a branch of the nationwide campaign, Refill Wales, founded by plastic-free action group City to Sea in collaboration with the Welsh Government as they aim to combat plastic pollution and make Wales the world’s first ‘Refill Nation’.
The Llangollen branch is Refill Wales’ first, which will launch on Sunday, October 7 at the Plastic Free Llangollen meet-up in Llangollen Memorial Square, after which window stickers will be displayed by the businesses that are open to people wanting to refill their water bottle
The stickers will show businesses’ commitment to reducing single-use plastic and acting as a ‘welcome’ to anyone who may be unsure of asking for a refill.
The 13 businesses from Llangollen taking part so far are: The Britannia Inn Hotel, Abbey Farm Caravan Park, White Waters Hotel & Spa, Llangollen Outdoors, The Corn Mill, Llangollen Oggie Shop, Gails Wine Bar, Cellar Door, Oak Street Coffee Shop, Vintage Rose Tearooms, m’Eating Point, Pro Adventure and Station Cafe & Bar.
Mair Davies, chairman of PFL, said: “The refill scheme is great for Llangollen as it is helping reduce plastic waste and litter in the area, whilst bringing people and businesses together to keep the town beautiful.”
Alongside the stickers, there will be an app, ‘Refill’, that will direct customers to all the businesses taking part in the scheme across the UK.
Hannah Osamn, co-ordinator for Refill Wales, said: “Refill Llangollen is the first scheme to be set up since the partnership with the Welsh Government was established.
“It is exciting to see that Llangollen’s businesses have got on board with Refill so readily, which gives a good indication that Wales is falling back in love with tap water.”
To get involved and set up a Refill scheme in your town or area, email hannah@refill.org.uk
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