Scourge
- 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]
Benefits
There are so many benefits that come from refilling water bottles rather than buying single-use plastic bottles:
- Reduce plastic pollution and waste.
- 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]
South Swindon's water fountains
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.
Resources
For any organisations seeking to install water fountains, here are some helpful resources:
- Drinking Water Fountains - A How To Guide" by City-to-Sea.
- Our Only World Water Stations.
- Sea-Changers Coastal Fountain Fund 2026.
Contact us for further info.
References