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Reading Sustainability Centre

education project, eco centre, exhibitions

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Refill in Reading

Falling back in love with tap water and preventing plastic pollution – one bottle at a time.

What is Refill?

Refill is a national campaign to make it so easy and acceptable to refill your water bottle on the go that it becomes all but pointless to buy water in throwaway plastic bottles, helping people both stay hydrated and reduce plastic pollution.

Refill is making this happen by encouraging cafes, bars, shops, hotels and public buildings to display a sticker in their window and list themselves on the Refill Smartphone App if they are happy for passers-by to pop in and ask for their water bottle to be refilled with tap water for free, whether or not they make a purchase.

We are proud that Reading Sustainability Centre has been appointed local champion for Refill in Reading, and excited about the possibility of Reading becoming a Refill Town. Over the next few months we want to sign up as many of the town’s cafes, pubs, shops and visitor attractions as possible as Refill stations. If you’d like to get involved, or would like to know more about becoming a Refill station, drop us a line using our contact form.

Why is Refill important?

In 1950, the world’s population of 2.5 billion produced 1.5 million tons of plastic; in 2016, a global population of more than 7 billion people produced over 320 million tons of plastic. This is set to double by 2034. Every day approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into our oceans. 

In the UK, the average household uses 480 plastic bottles a year, but only recycles 270 of them. The remainder either ends up in general waste or becomes the sort of litter that finds its way in to our waterways and seas. Over 150 plastic bottles litter each mile of UK beaches. One way to address this tide of plastic pollution is to get better at recycling. Another is to reduce the number of plastic bottles we use in the first place.

How big is Refill?

There are currently about 29 cafes, shops, hotels and bars in the Reading area that display the Refill water drop logo or are listed on the Refill Smartphone App (or both). We’d like to see many more places doing the same, so that wherever you are in Reading you are never far from a Refill station.

Nationally there are about 12,000 Refill stations, with more being added every day. Refill started in the seaside town of Bude as a practical response to plastic waste on the beach, was developed to its current form and profile in Bristol and has now become a national movement with the backing of the water companies. But it still works best where it also has a local champion. 

RefillReading KeepCup

We are not starting from scratch. Reading is fortunate in already having a well-established initiative to encourage people to carry a reusable coffee cup, Refill Reading. We are working closely with Transition Town Reading and the team behind Refill Reading to make the most of our connections, to encourage people in Reading not only to carry a reusable coffee cup but also to ditch the habit of buying water in throw away bottles.

Disused fountain in Reading Town Square

Of course refilling on the go is not a new idea. Towns and parks across the country used to be peppered with public water fountains. But over time these fell out of fashion and in to disrepair. Alongside the national Refill scheme there are also local campaigns to reintroduce water fountains to public spaces. National Rail has announced its intention to install water fountains in its mainline stations, including Reading Station. Reading Borough Council is on record as saying that it wants to find a way to reintroduce water fountains to Town Square and key parks.

Be part of Reading’s #RefillRevolution!

If you think this all sounds exciting and you would like to get involved in signing up new Refill stations in Reading, or you work somewhere that would like to become a Refill station, please drop Paul Ducker a line using the contact form.

Of course, you can become a champion immediately just by downloading the Refill App, or looking for the Refill window sticker, to find places to refill your water bottle (https://refill.org.uk). Then, once you’ve got the habit, take a friend along so that they can see how easy it is to do!

Who is behind Refill?

Refill is a national campaign to make refilling a reusable water bottle on the go as easy and convenient as possible. It was created and is managed by City to Sea, a Community Interest Company based in Bristol. The national development of Refill is being supported by the water companies. Reading Sustainability Centre is the local champion for Refill in Reading, working closely with Transition Town Reading and the existing Refill Reading reusable cup campaign. Together we are creating connections and building a local team of dedicated volunteers who can support the spread of Refill in Reading. 

Refill project updates

  • Making a plan 10/02/2021
  • Directors visit hydro site 12/07/2020
  • New Beginnings open a fridge to the community 06/07/2019
  • MakeSpace Oxford: A space come true 27/05/2019
  • How resourceful is Reading? 26/04/2019

All Refill project updates

Posts on plastic pollution

  • How are Reading’s Eateries doing on the Single-use Plastics Front? 14/02/2019
  • Breaking free of single use plastic in Reading – What is going on? 16/05/2018
  • No need to #refusethestraw in Hong Kong: Drinks come with a metal straw as standard 25/03/2018
  • Don’t blame plastics! 25/02/2018
  • Trying to live with less plastic? Try shampoo in a bar! 12/12/2017

All posts on plastic pollution

refillinreading

Fantastic achievement. Well done @plasticfreecaver Fantastic achievement. Well done @plasticfreecaversham - Posted @withregram • @plasticfreecaversham What a great Mass Unwrap event today. Thanks to our volunteers, @waitroseandpartners, the enthusiastic staff, @mattrodda_rdg for attending, and, of course, the shoppers of #Caversham!

The vast majority of shoppers agreed:  #LessPlasticPlease 
Thanks also to @surfersagainstsewage for all the help and advice and for creating such a great call to action. .
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#MassUnwrap #PlasticFreeCommunities #plasticpollution 
#rdguk
Instagram post 18078137200169414 Instagram post 18078137200169414
Posted @withrepost • @swanatstreatley Now that t Posted @withrepost • @swanatstreatley Now that the Belleme Tap is installed outside the Boat House, we are an official @refillhq station 💧Fill up your water bottle and let’s #reduceplasticwaste
Lovely sunny morning spreading the word about @ref Lovely sunny morning spreading the word about @refillinreading at the local Twyford family fun run! Lots of kids helped us ‘save the fish’ by fishing the plastics out of the sea. #refillrevolution #community #sustainability
Wow! This is fantastic @refilllondon & @officialth Wow! This is fantastic @refilllondon & @officialthameswater Be great if these sort of ‘pop up’ water fountains could become a feature of more events .. in Reading too?
Posted @withrepost • @mayasrefillables So proud Posted @withrepost • @mayasrefillables So proud to be part of the steering group to help Reading move away from single-use plastic!

#reduce #reuse #refill #waronplastic #reducewaste #mothernature #togetherwecanmakeadifference #localcommunity
Posted @withrepost • @technicalnature I call thi Posted @withrepost • @technicalnature I call this composition “ The Elephant and the Evian”
🐘 💦 
Make sure you stay hydrated folks and the best way to not be caught out is to carry a flask with you that you can refill!
☀️
Check out the @refillhq & @refillinreading for places to refill on the go! 💧 .
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#heatwave #britishweatherproblems #plasticbottles #refill #refillable #plasticlitter #playground #ecodesigner #systemthinking #rdguk #rdgukbusiness
#Refill inspiration at Glastonbury Festival. Water #Refill inspiration at Glastonbury Festival. Water Aid bottle filling points. This one outside Pedestrian Gate B, but others dotted around the site.
#Refill inspiration at Glastonbury Festival - Wate #Refill inspiration at Glastonbury Festival - Water Aid Water Kiosk
Grab a sandwich from @paninoreading for lunch! You Grab a sandwich from @paninoreading for lunch! You can also #refill if you #GotTheBottle ! Find more Reading businesses who are part of the @refillhq network by downloading the app and having a look at the map 🌏🚰 #nationalrefillday #RefillRevolution
Posted @withrepost • @refillbrum We were at Birm Posted @withrepost • @refillbrum We were at Birmingham New Street Station this morning to tell Birmingham’s commuters about Refill!
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#nationalrefillday #refill #climatesteps #greenerbrum #birmingham #refillbirmingham #citytosea #tapwater #reuse #riseofthereusables #zerowaste #plasticpollution #brum #refillrevolution #gotthebottle?
Have you #GotTheBottle! It is Refill Day tomorrow. Have you #GotTheBottle! It is Refill Day tomorrow. Download the Refill App - find water on the go and discover local Refill stations in Reading www.refill.org.uk #Rdg #RefillRevolution🚰 Share your #nationalrefillday stories by tagging us @refillinreading and we will #repost to encourage more sustainable #instamoment 💦🌏👏
Posted @withrepost • @technicalnature Have you s Posted @withrepost • @technicalnature Have you seen this absolutely lovely festival coming to Reading on the 11th of may?
☀️
Much more my cup of tea then that other one that comes to Reading later in the year......don’t even get me started on the Tent waste!
⛺️
Anyway this one, has been conceived by @alicemayyoga and brought to life by a whole host of different wellbeing, yoga, healing, art, craft, design, food and nature practitioners collaborating and saying YES  to bringing all this good stuff for us and planet together.
🙌
@laurarouthparsons has also done amazing getting all of this online - so head on over to their @earthlivingfestival and follow the link to the website. There will be early bird tickets available until the 15th.
🦢
Looking forward to sharing a truly nourishing day with everyone. Maybe see you there?
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#rdguk #berkshireliving #emotionalwellbeing #humannature #ethicalliving #ecoliving #digitaldetox #sustainabledesigner #ecodesigner #artforthesoul #circulardesign #communityfestival
Posted @withrepost • @technicalnature Had a quic Posted @withrepost • @technicalnature Had a quick swing by the #ResourcefulReading exhibition today at Reading Museum. Celebrating all the R’s!
♻️
It’s been put on in collaboration with The Reading Sustainability Centre and features just some of the many initiatives happening in Reading to help make it a more sustainable place to live and work!
💚
Examples include @refillinreading promoting #reuseablecups & #refillbottles alongside plastic free alternatives like paper straws ( or saying no) & beeswax wraps.
🐝 
There’s of course loads of community organisations that are repairing, promoting and growing alternative lifestyle products and actions, like @truefoodcoop & Readings @repaircafe often held at the Rlab hackspace.
🛠
What other ones can you think off that support a more Resourceful Reading? I’ve been collating a whole load myself & will be “popping up” first of all @earthlivingfestival to share & openly map exploring @materialvalues
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#sustainablelifestyles #lowwaste #zerowaste #ecoliving #rdguk #reducereuserecycle♻️ #rdgukbusiness #readingberkshire #refillrevolution #wastelesslivemore #righttorepair #gooddesign #circularcities #circulardesign #ecocommunity #museumexhibit #sustainablemuseums #smallchanges #plasticfree
Hard to miss this #refill station! Hard to miss this #refill station!
Refillin’ at Reading Station #refillreading Refillin’ at Reading Station #refillreading
Posted @withrepost • @refillhq Are you ready to Posted @withrepost • @refillhq Are you ready to depart from plastic pollution? We have 3 new water fountains launching today thanks to @networkrail. Fill up while you wait 🚉🚊🚈 💧💧💧#RefillPaddington #RefillReading.⠀
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#sustainability #Refill #RefillRevolution #zerowaste #reuse #ecoconscious #saynotosingleuse #savetheocean #bethechange #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #environment #tapwater #drinkingwater #RefillLondon
Posted @withrepost • @lovenotlandfill THANK YOU Posted @withrepost • @lovenotlandfill THANK YOU ✨ | it’s exactly one week since our pop-up shop @trumanbrewey where we showcased charity collections by:

@jasminehemsley for @trinityretail
@palomaindisguise for @oxfamfestshop
@confetticrowd for @barnardosretail
@lizzieloves.x for @traid 
AND.. @depop sellers @grassroutes & @basementsix

All collections proved that second hand clothing is the way forward, both for the environment and your pocket. Buying in this way you invest in high quality clothes that will last.

During the event we served food by the amazing @tinyleaflondon and delicious drinks kindly provided by @seedlipdrinks (if you’ve never tried it, I urge you too - especially on a school night when you fancy G&T type of drink!) plus, the bottle is pretty lovely too 💕
Posted @withrepost • @leafico #Repost @zerowaste Posted @withrepost • @leafico #Repost @zerowastehannah
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What do you think of this infographic from Clean Up Britain? I particularly like the 'Refill' and 'Repair and Repurpose' sections. Also a lot of Britain's waste is incinerated rather than landfill but I still think the message is good ♻️♻️♻️ #reduce #reuse #refill #repair #repurpose #replace #recyle #repaircafe #reusablecup #reusablebags #reducereuserecycle #reduceyourwaste #lesswaste #wasteless #landfill #incineration #britain #uk #breakfreefromplastic #lowimpactmovement #zerowaste #zerowastehome #zerowasteliving #sustainableliving #journeytozerowaste #journeytozerowasteuk
Posted @withrepost • @plasticfreenewjersey I'm g Posted @withrepost • @plasticfreenewjersey I'm getting better and better at this every day. All is a learning experience on this journey.♡In this modern society ruled by capitalism, we have to constantly guide ourselves through our decisions. You can do so much good and make a difference, just with how you chose to spend your dollar.➡️Do you really need any of those new clothes or shoes? No.➡️Do you really need to buy any shampoo or conditioner in plastic bottles? No.➡️Do you really need this random item from a department store? No. I don't even go into department stores anymore! That's the best way to get through these bumps in the road. Just don't buy anything! ◇◇What steps have you taken to minimize your footprint on this earth? Or shall I say, plastic-print? #ChooseToRefuse #plasticfreeNovember #plasticfreeliving #plasticfreenewjersey #plasticfreeNJ #reuse #renew @plasticfreejuly @zerowastenj @our.planet.our.home @lifewithoutplastic @get_repost #planetorplastic @going.zero.waste #zerowastecollective #sustainable #ecofriendly #goinggreen #growyourown #decolonizedwellness #anticapitalistlovenotes #anticapitalist #sustainabilityisanactofresistance
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Reading Sustainability Centre

We are an education project linked to Transition Town Reading and Reading Hydro. Our goal is that Reading is recognised as a leader in practical action on sustainability, as well as a great place to live.

We are mostly virtual at the moment, but are working with a variety of partners to support the development of local sustainability experiments as well as ‘pop-up’ exhibitions and events. So please do keep checking back, or sign up for updates below. If you’d like to get more directly involved just drop us a line.

There is more about Reading Sustainability Centre on our Who we are page.

Recent Comments

  • Tony on New Beginnings open a fridge to the community
  • Mary Paul on No need to #refusethestraw in Hong Kong: Drinks come with a metal straw as standard
  • Paul on No need to #refusethestraw in Hong Kong: Drinks come with a metal straw as standard
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