Exmouth people encouraged to fill reusable water bottles at the new water bottle refill stations to reduce single-use plastic waste
The Town Council set up a working party to consider practical actions to reduce plastic waste and has recently installed two water bottle filling stations to encourage the use of reusable water bottles, and reduce the amount of plastic waste. By working in partnership with Sideshore, Devon County Council and East Devon District Council, it has installed two water bottle filling stations in Exmouth.
With thanks to Devon County Council for providing the space and East Devon District Council for providing the water, the Town Council has installed a unit by the train station to provide commuters, shoppers and visitors access to free water to fill reusable water bottles.
Also, thanks to Sideshore, who has generously provided the space and water, the Town Council has installed a second unit along the seafront by the water sports centre.
The units consist of a pedestal bottle filling station with a simple push-button actuation system to fill a bottle quickly and efficiently with little waste, and provides clean, hygienic water in accordance with the strict regulations.
Statistics show that 13 billion plastic bottles are thrown away each year in the UK and less than 50% of these plastic water bottles are recycled. Shockingly, plastic bottles take an average of 450 years to degrade. This means that the plastic bottles are dumped at landfill for hundreds of years. The single-use bottles take up the limited landfill space and litters both the sea and the countryside.
Using a reusable water bottle is cheaper than buying single-use plastic water bottles. For the recommended amount of 8 glasses of water a day, bottled water costs £1,400 a year. Using tap water and a reusable water bottle, which on average costs £15-£20 would save you £1,380 per year! Thus, using a reusable water bottle will not only help cut down plastic waste but also prevents health problems and will save you money.
Councillor Steve Gazzard, Mayor of Exmouth said:
“We’re delighted to have worked with our partners to install these water bottle filling stations and I would encourage everyone to use these units and fill their reusable bottles. Not only will they help us reduce single-use plastic bottles but also promote healthier lifestyles by ensuring we drink plenty of fresh clean water.”
Simon Findel-Hawkins, Venue Manager, Sideshore, commented: “The Sideshore team are delighted to be working with the local council and community to highlight the importance of eliminating single-use plastics, which can be extremely detrimental to our beautiful surrounding environment.”
Councillor Jeff Trail BEM, Devon County Council Chairman and Councillor for Exmouth added: “Single use plastics are a scourge on the environment with an estimated 800 plastic bottles being thrown away in the UK every minute. Many of those bottles end up polluting the sea and endangering wildlife. That’s why Devon County Council phased out single use plastic food and beverage packaging in work locations, and why I’m delighted to see this new water refill station. By encouraging people to fill up it will help reduce litter particularly around the beach area. It’s good for the environment and, because it will encourage people to hydrate with water rather than with sugary drinks, it’s good for health reasons too.”
Councillor Denise Bickley, East Devon District Council Assistant Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Emergencies said: “This is excellent news and we hope that residents and tourists alike will take advantage of the new water stations in Exmouth. ‘Stop buying drinks in plastic bottles’ is an easy pledge to make to really help our carbon footprint, and to keep plastic out of the sea. Remember drinks companies don’t make water – they make plastic bottles!”
For further information please contact the Town Council on 01395 276 167 or email us on reception@exmouth.gov.uk.