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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

Posted @withregram • @readingcan 📣📣Wasting Posted @withregram • @readingcan 📣📣Wasting food feeds climate change. 📣📣 Thatʼs why weʼre supporting @LFHW_UK for #FoodWasteActionWeek. Find out how you can help save the planet and be more food waste savvy by making friends with your microwave!

lovefoodhatewaste.com/fwaw
@plasticfreecaversham Fantastic new blog on @readi @plasticfreecaversham Fantastic new blog on @readingcan about how Reading is progressing towards its ambition to be a zero waste! 🌿🏘

Written by @tyredpaul the article sets out the progress made on a circular economy, how @readingcouncil and @re3recycling are taking on food waste and how we at @plasticfreecaversham are working tirelessly to highlight unnecessary single-use plastics and remove them from our community!

With the distant, daily announcements coming out of COP26 it can be hard to know what difference we can make and how it affects our daily lives. So if you do one thing today, please just take five minutes to read about the inspiring work taking place on our doorstep! 🙏🙌

Link in bio!

#plasticfree #cop26 #blog #climatechange #circulareconomy #foodwaste #climateaction #eco #sustainable #wechoosereuse #refillrevolution #berkshire #caversham #readinguk #community - Posted @withregram
Great to see Ayo & Rachel of @plasticfreecaversham Great to see Ayo & Rachel of @plasticfreecaversham at Caversham Artisan and Farmers Market selling reusable coffee cups and talking about their fundraiser for a water refill point. Got one of the last few green ones. #refillrevolution @readingcan
Posted @withregram • @plasticfreecaversham Every Posted @withregram • @plasticfreecaversham Every year around 13 million tonnes of plastic leak into the global marine environment. That’s heavier than 2 million blue whales 🐋😱

Want to help but don’t know where to start? Don’t forget that if we all use less single-use plastic and make use of reusable alternatives - there’ll be less plastic around!

Here at Plastic Free Caversham we are working hard to make it easier for us all to use less plastic - that’s why we are currently fundraising for a new water refill station! Help us make a change to Caversham that will help the beautiful world around us. Pop down to @cafmarket on 18 or 25 July and buy one of our bamboo cups - proceeds will go towards the new refill station, with a proportion to the @surfersagainstsewage national plastic free campaign. 

You can be the change you want to see in the world! 🌍

#RefillRevolution
#ChoosetoReuse
#WeChooseReuse
#plasticfreejuly
Posted @withregram • @plasticfreecaversham Don’t forget we will be selling reusable bamboo cups on 18 and 25 July at @cafmarket 🗓

Did we mention that for every cup sold, a tree is planted - how cool is that? 🌳

Not only do trees provide much-needed shade on a hot British summer’s day (or let’s be honest, shelter on a rainy one!) but they are one of the best tools we have in tackling climate change 🌍

So for just £10 you get a cup, a tree and the knowledge that you’re saving the world. Now that’s pretty good value if you ask us 😊

#RefillRevolution #ChoosetoReuse
#WeChooseReuse #BambooCups
#TreesForTheFuture #eco #caversham #readinguk #berkshire #PlasticFreeJuly
Posted @withregram • @plasticfreecaversham Caver Posted @withregram • @plasticfreecaversham Caversham has it all - great shops, beautiful cafes, top pubs, but we feel there’s something missing… 

So we are fundraising for a new water refill station to keep us all hydrated (and plastic free) when we’re out and about. But we need your help to make it a reality! 

All you need to do is pop down to @cafmarket on either Sunday 18 or 25 July and buy one of our limited-edition bamboo cups. Profits will be heading to the water refill station, with a proportion to the @surfersagainstsewage national plastic free campaign. We can’t wait to see you there!

#RefillRevolution
#ChoosetoReuse
#WeChooseReuse
#caversham
Hope everyone has had a great #WorldRefillDay! Fee Hope everyone has had a great #WorldRefillDay! Feels good to be part of a global #RefillRevolution! Will try and pull together the various posts about opportunities to reuse and refill in Reading over the coming few days and reshare, here, on Twitter and on Facebook.
Are you ready Reading #refillrevolutionaries? Are you ready Reading #refillrevolutionaries?
Posted @withregram • @technicalnature This Thurs Posted @withregram • @technicalnature This Thursday is all about the power of Community and Collaboration for a circular economy In our Circular Coffee + Conversation ( you can find the Eventbrite link when go to my bio)
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@sophiesegal61 and I will be chatting with two of the co-founders of @plasticfreecaversham - a group of passionate local residents and businesses who have joined forces to drive Caversham to single use plastic free status under @surfersagainstsewage guidelines. They’re also a key part of Readings resource strategy with @readingcan 
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Anne-Marie Evans is the owner and founder of @frangipanihome.co.uk a retail and lifestyle (eco) hub. They’ve also recently partnered with local eco-company @noodskinuk to launch an eco -refill station for 100% natural cleaning, bathing and skincare products.
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@cllrayosokale is a passionate advocate for sustainability, promoting this both as an elected Labour and Cooperative Councillor for Caversham and championing the environment through her background as a chartered Civil Engineer.
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📷 Swipe for photos of some of their initiatives and growing community👉
Including a mass unwrap, and active supported @mayasrefillables and @refillinreading to name a few

#circularconversationstarter #plasticfree #plasticfreecommunities #ecoliving #greenliving #sustainablecommunity #ecobusiness #sustainablebusiness #communityaction #rdguk #readinguk #berkshirebusiness #circularcommunity #circularcoffee #circularconversation #circulareconomy #circulareconomyclub #rdgukbiz #rdgukbusiness #caversham #ecolifestyle
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?
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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.

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  • 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
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