Cheers to Change: Wrapping Up Our Refill Communities’ Remarkable 2023 Journey

Let’s remind ourselves why we’re here. Our Refill Community Schemes, driven by the collective desire for a more sustainable, circular tomorrow, have been the beating heart of our Refill campaign. From the get-go, we aimed to create a ripple effect of change, and boy, have we made waves! Our Refill Schemes range from small, local community groups who want to reduce pollution in the town, city or region where they live, to NGOs, councils, municipalities and national governments who are representing Refill on a National level and have targets and commitments to reduce waste and connect people to free-drinking water.

Refill Communities are working on the ground connecting people to reuse solutions and support businesses with reducing single-use plastic. 

Refill Lancing, run by the Community group  ‘Keep Lancing Lovely’, were so pleased to be awarded the Community Award Winner for “Environmental Group of the year 2023”!!! They also did some great Refill promotion around WRD 2023.

Refill Burnham & Highbridge, have kicked off their Refill Campaign with a some fantastic press coverage in their local Burnham-on-sea News – Enjoy a little browse here!!! They’ve been busy out and about in their town signing up businesses and have already engaged with 12+ local businesses! They held a celebration for businesses that have signed up Refill to present a certification and applauded their involvement with the Refill initiative. They also hosted a Refill stand at their local town Eco festival on the 30th of September.  

Refill Eastbourne held an opening ceremony for WRDin which they highlighted 7 fountains across Eastbourne with volunteers and Refill banners at each fountain. They have recently had a very successful beach clean covering 94 beaches along the seafront with support from their volunteers who have ‘adopted a beach’ – all 94 beaches have now been adopted!

Refill Camden have been actively promoting not only water refills, but refills of household items as well. Plastic Free July saw Refill Camden stationed at markets across the borough with empty jars/bottles to fill up on household products, dried herbs, spices and teas – they had their market stand locations available on the Camden Gov website! Here is Refill Camden in ACTION!!

Refill Merton have also been actively promoting Refill across their social channels sharing some great pictures throughout Plastic Free July, highlighting the importance of using your reusables as well as directing residents and visitors to download the Refill app! They have a lovely fountain within the town – have a peek here!!   

Refill Gorleston have been incredibly busy attending local events on behalf of Refill. They attended ‘Out There’ festival in Great Yarmouth in September where they promoted Refill, engaging with attendees, and highlighting the Refill app and local Refill stations!

Refill Aylsham who have been SUPER active since joining, held a Refill launch during their Aylsham Town Green Day earlier this year with the support from Norfolk Council – Refill Norfolk (Refill Destination) who have been working closely with their several Community led Schemes to cooperate on agendas and needs and support volunteers with capacity where needed!

Refill Wimborne, run by Wimborne Ware on Waste group, have also been busy signing up Refill stations and attending local events. They held a stand at The Green Festival on the Minster Green on 14th October where they showcased the positive collaborations with the town council on introducing a reusable festival cup and their NEW fountain! They also held a Refill stand at a local talk by Megan McCubbin from Spring Watch on the 15th October, which the local upper school hosted!

Refill Margate celebrated a massive win managing after 2 years of campaigning and fundraising, to get Thanet District Council to install Thanet’s first dedicated water fountain on Margate Main Sands! The water fountain was paid for 100% by the community, who have been donating to Refill Margate, run by Rise Up Clean Up, over the past few years. The installation and maintenance of the fountain will be the responsibility of Thanet District Council. Rise Up Clean Up Margate hope that this will be a massive step towards plastic reduction around Main Sands beach, eliminating the need to purchase single use plastic bottles and providing a convenient place to refill reusable water bottles.

Refill In the Highlands is made up of 7 community groups in the highlands! All the individual community groups have a shared goal around engaging businesses with refill and reuse, targeting tourist spots, hotels and local stops for people travelling around the highlands!