- The UK uses 13 billion plastic bottles per year. 5.5 billion are littered, landfilled, or incinerated each year contributing 233,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions[1].
- 7.5 billion plastic bottles are recycled each year.[1] However plastic recycling is highly polluting using further resources.
- To produce each plastic bottle, a quarter of its capacity in oil is used. For a 500ml bottle, 125ml of crude oil would be used (500 / 4 = 125)[2].
- 1 plastic bottle takes more than 10 times the water it contains to produce it[3]!
- Transportation of bottles uses more plastics, energy, fuel...[4]
There are so many benefits that come from refilling water bottles rather than buying single-use plastic bottles:
- Reduce plastic production, pollution and waste.
- Healthier environment for humans and animals.
- Reduce litter which nurtures a culture of care for the environment, improves mental health, reduces crime...(see Keep Swindon Tidy).
- Cost savings for councils and governments from waste management and clean up.
- Cost savings to the public.
- Promote reuse over single-use.
- Combat climate change and loss of biodiversity.
- Provide access to safe, clean drinking water.
- Empower individuals and communities.
- Reduce the use of energy, water and fuel.
If just 1 in 10 Brits refilled bottles just once a week we’d have 340 million fewer plastic bottles in circulation[5].
Research shows that convenience, drinking water access and advertising drive global bottled water consumption[6]. So providing places to refill water bottles and promoting the benefits is key to reducing the scourge of single-use plastic bottles.
South Swindon recently installed water fountains at the 3 main parks that they manage: GWR Park, Town Gardens, and Queen's Park. Parish Councillor Linda Kasmaty discusses the project on The Birds and Bees show.
For any organisations seeking to install water fountains, here are some helpful resources:
- Drinking Water Fountains - A How To Guide" by City-to-Sea.
- Landfill Communities Fund.
- Our Only World Water Stations.
- Sea-Changers Coastal Fountain Fund 2026.
- Thames Water grants for community projects which benefit water courses.
Contact us for further info.
- House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee: "Plastic bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide" report.
- "The Hidden Oil Cost Of Producing A Plastic Bottle".
- "Single-Use Plastic Bottles" by Beyond Plastic.
- "The Transportation of Plastic Bottles: From Manufacturing Plants to Consumers".
- City-to-Sea.
- "Researchers find convenience, drinking water access and advertising drive global bottled water consumption" by Phys.org.