The Environment Minister, Hannah Blythyn, will today launch Refill Cardiff, which will make it easier to get free tap water in public places across the city.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Cardiff is the latest Welsh city or town to sign up to the Refill campaign. Participating businesses sign up to the Refill app and put a sticker in their window to show passers-by they are welcome to stop by and fill up their water bottle for free.
A ‘Refill Cardiff’ launch will take place at Cardiff Central Library today. Following the event, a group of volunteers will visit businesses in the city to encourage more to sign up to the campaign.
The Welsh Government is supporting the national roll-out of the scheme by City-To-Sea, with over 600 refill stations already signed up across Wales and more joining every week. The Welsh Government has also funded a Welsh language version of the Refill app.
Cardiff University is a Refill ‘champion’. The University’s Water Research Institute, which is researching 'plastics in freshwaters', is aiming to get all accessible water stations on campus signed up to the app and encouraging other organisations across the city to join the scheme. Cardiff Council has also added public buildings to the app, such as libraries or Hub buildings.
There are currently 86 Refill stations in the Cardiff area. Refill is helping tap water be more widely available in public spaces like transport hubs, shopping centres and public buildings.
Hannah Blythyn said:
”Making drinking water more available is a really simple way to cut down on single-use plastics and is much better for the environment.
Earlier this year I announced my ambition to see Wales become the world’s first ‘Refill Nation’ and make asking for a water refill a social norm, so it’s really good to see our capital city join the scheme.”
Hannah Osman, Refill Wales Coordinator, said:
“We are so excited to see Refill Cardiff join the Refill movement and making a real difference by reducing reliance on single-use plastics. Every time we refill a re-usable bottle we save on our own money and the planet’s resources, and all those individual refills add up to a huge impact.
It’s great to see so many local businesses supporting Refill Cardiff by signing up to provide free refills.”
Professor Isabelle Durance, Director of Cardiff University’s Water Research Institute, said:
“We are very excited to be championing the Refill movement in Cardiff. The University is committed to reducing its energy, water and plastic use. Simple but effective schemes like Refill are a great way to achieve this, but perhaps as importantly, to make us more aware of the need to better manage our natural resources.
In addition to promoting the campaign, we are providing water refill stations in several of our campus buildings, empowering staff, students and the whole community to care for our environment, for future generations.”
Councillor Michael Michael, Cabinet Member responsible for Clean Streets, Recycling and the Environment at Cardiff Council said:
“Now that the app has been launched, residents and visitors in Cardiff will be able to see exactly where they will be able to refill their plastic bottles in the city on their smart phone. The Council is committed to reducing the use of single use plastics and we will continue to work with our partners to continue to expand the scheme.”