MORE than 50 businesses in Worcester have signed up to a scheme which allows people to fill up reusable water bottles for nothing.
Businesses including restaurants, cafes and coffee shops signed up earlier this week to the Refill Scheme, which has being rolled out across Worcester by water company Severn Trent and founding organisation, City to Sea.
The Refill Scheme, supported by Worcester City Council and community volunteering group Transition Worcester, aims to promote free tap water, helping to keep people hydrated, as well as bringing environmental benefits by reducing the use of plastic bottles.
Severn Trent’s Jess Fidler, said: “It was great to see so many businesses signing up to be part of Refill in Worcester. Our action day was a tremendous success and to sign up over 50 local businesses was fantastic. Everyone showed a real interest in the campaign.
“Businesses which signed up are now proudly displaying their Refill window stickers and are also appearing on the Refill app where people can find any Refill Station in Worcester or across the UK.”
Coun Joy Squires, chair of Worcester City Council’s Environment Committee, said: “I was delighted to help sign up local businesses to the Water Refill scheme and was very impressed with the enthusiasm for the scheme. There is a real determination in Worcester to reduce the use of plastics and the Refill scheme will go a long way to help with that.”
Coun Louis Stephen at Worcester City Council said: “I’m very pleased to support this great idea. Refilling a bottle saves masses of energy and cuts down on plastic pollution. But I’m especially keen to see the smaller independent cafes, restaurants and pubs join the scheme – this is a great way to get new customers into their premises.”
Crumpets and Coffee Lounge, a café based in Angel Place in the city centre, was one of many to sign up this week.
Owner Marc James added: “This is such a great opportunity for us to play our part in the fight against plastic pollution, as well as offering what frankly should be a basic human right – free and clean drinking water.”
The Refill app can be downloaded on Google Play or the App Store.
Anyone wanting to get in touch, find out more about Refill, or those looking to sign up or become an ambassador, can email [email protected].
