Having declared a Climate Emergency earlier this year, Surrey Environment Partnership member Mole Valley District Council has taken a stand against single use plastics and is inviting local businesses to join the Refill Mole Valley scheme and inspire others to take action too.
Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) has joined forces with not-for-profit organisation, City to Sea’s, national Refill Campaign and established a local initiative, Refill Mole Valley. So far, MVDC has been backed by SES Water and a number of business partners and local groups. An estimated 7.7 billion plastic water bottles are bought across the UK each year, resulting in substantial amounts of single-use plastic waste. The wider Refill Scheme aims to cut plastic bottle use by tens of millions each year, in addition to substantially increasing the availability of high-quality drinking water.
MVDC is calling on businesses and volunteers in their area to help spread news of the Refill Mole Valley Initiative and sign up to the scheme themselves. Businesses offering passers-by the opportunity to refill their bottles with water at no cost could see an increase in footfall as they will be listed as a Refill Station on the free Refill phone app so their establishment, complete with refill window sticker, can easily be located by anyone on the go.
Research suggests 66% of people said they would be more likely to make a purchase from a business whilst refilling, and 65% would return to make a future purchase. For more information, or to sign up to the scheme, please visit the MVDC website or email refill@molevalley.gov.uk.
Regional Refill Coordinator, Mala Nathan, said: “Every time we refill a re-usable bottle instead of buying and throwing away a single-use bottle we not only reduce the amount of plastic and fuel being used we save a bit of money and help clean up our towns and open spaces too. We’re so excited to see the launch of Refill Mole Valley which will make it easy to look out for the stickers or check the Refill app to find out where you can top up your water bottle for free.”
Councillor Claire Malcomson, MVDC Cabinet Member for Environment, said; “When we took the decision to declare a Climate Emergency in Mole Valley earlier this year, we did so knowing that there was a huge amount that could be done and that we couldn’t take this stand on our own. MVDC has signed up to the Refill app and taken action to remove bottled water from vending machines in its buildings. We are looking to local businesses to pick up the cause and help inspire a change in culture. With enough Refill Stations readily available, there will be no need to buy a bottle of water in the future.”
Refill Station – The Old House, Dorking