Refill Greater Manchester
Reducing single-use plastics in Greater Manchester
We want Greater Manchester to be a place where everyone can live a good life, growing up, getting on and growing old in a greener, fairer more prosperous city region. We have adopted a clear and ambitious approach to climate action, driven by the science and evidence but with individual, community, industry, and institutional action at its heart. An approach that recognises the role we can all play in taking action to reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment. One that champions collective endeavour, partnership, innovation, and positive action, where we all take action – making better choices, smarter swaps, buying and consuming more consciously, replacing, re-using or reducing. Investing in and embracing more sustainable businesses, organisations, lives, and lifestyles.
If you’re looking to start a Refill Scheme, we’ve got a guide to help you get started.
Taking Action, Today, Tomorrow and Together
Working collectively across our city region, with our communities, and businesses we aim to drastically reduce plastic pollution and protect our environment by reducing single-use plastics across the city-region. The Greater Manchester Plastic Pact was one of the first and boldest Pacts to commit to reducing single-use plastics from the public estate by the end of 2024 and as part of this commitment we have partnered with City to Sea to become a Refill Destination. This work is directly tied to the ambition for the Greater Manchester city region to become zero-carbon by 2038, and its ambition to become a leading force in promoting the circular economy, creating a city-region where products are made to last, can be repaired, reused, and shared, and every bit can be easily recycled. The move away from SUP is also connected to improving health outcomes across the city-region, as more becomes known about the potential harm caused by microplastics.
As part of this work, we see the use of City to Sea’s app – ‘Refill’ – as a helpful tool to help promote the move away from SUPs to more sustainable, circular, and environmentally friendly alternatives like refill and re-use. With support from local communities setting up small schemes and our 10 Local Authorities signing up as many organisations as possible, it is looking good for Greater Manchester to be one of the greatest Refillable regions in the UK.
We want to make Greater Manchester one of the greenest city regions in Europe and are aiming to eradicate single-use plastics and become carbon-neutral by 2038 – a full 12 years ahead of the Government’s target. But we will only achieve that if we work together and start to make some serious changes to the way we live our lives and do business together. As public acceptance of single-use plastics falls, people are looking for alternatives and ways to make switching easier. Amongst several initiatives across our area, Refill Greater Manchester is a brilliant free and easy way to access water. Whether you are here for a day trip or commuting it has never been easier to find fountains or Refill Stations in cafes, bars and shops.
This is a really positive step forwards as we look to cut single-use plastics out of Greater Manchester. As part of our overall plans to reach net zero carbon by 2038, we have to ensure we are doing all we can as local leaders to support our residents in making the changes our environment desperately needs. Making public buildings available for people to refill their water bottle and including them all on one simple app is a great way to help people move away from single use plastics and it will save them money too – at a time we know residents are struggling. I urge everyone to download the app so together we can all play our part in creating a greener Greater Manchester.
GETTING INVOLVED IS EASY!
The campaign already has local Refill Schemes in Sale, Altrincham, Tameside, Bolton, Bury, Ramsbottom and Romiley, run by fantastic volunteer Local Champions. We know that small changes can make a big difference, but we need everyone to get involved. If you’re interested in running a local Refill scheme in Greater Manchester or simply have a great idea about reducing single-use plastics we’d love to have you on board.
Find your local Refill Scheme
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