Refill Wales
Important guidance on refilling safely during the COVID-19 outbreak
The safety of our Refill Station’s staff and customers is our number one priority. We want to support our Refill Stations as they start to reopen so, working with experts, we’ve developed this important guidance for offering water refills safely.
A Refill Nation
Join the #RefillRevolution
The Welsh Government is committed to making Wales the world’s first ‘Refill Nation’. Now in its second year with full support of Welsh Government and water companies Dŵr Cymru and Hafren Dyfrdwy, Refill will substantially increase the availability of high- quality drinking water. It has never been easier to swap a single use plastic bottle for a taste of the rolling Welsh mountains.
Find your nearest Refill Scheme here.
Want to set up a Refill Scheme in your local area? Click here to find out how!
Put your tap on the map! Sign your business up to be a Refill Station here.
Download the Refill app and be part of the #RefillRevolution!
Useful links
Check the websites of the Welsh Water companies for detailed advice and guidance about Coronavirus:
We work closely with Visit Wales and support their current advice to ‘Visit Wales Later’ Our mountains and coastlines will still be here. Please stay at home and Visit Wales later.
We are thrilled to have hit our targets to Refill the Welsh Coastal Path!
Every large community now has an active Refill Scheme and Refill Stations can be found in every community along the Welsh Coastal Path! Hurrah!
We’ve even been included in the Wales Coast Path Business Toolkit, a free marketing asset for businesses located along the Wales Coast Path! Check us out on page 40.
Lesley Griffiths, Environment Minister (Welsh Government) says:
“More Refill Stations along our coast and in our communities will help reduce the number of plastic bottles ending up in the sea, which can have a devastating effect on our marine environment. This is another step towards my ambition of Wales becoming the World’s first ‘Refill Nation’.”
Here is our journey so far!
2018
Summer
- Welsh Government announce their ambition for Wales to become the ‘First Refill Nation’.
- Llantwit Major becomes Wales’ first Refill Town.
Autumn
- Hannah Osman starts as Refill Wales Coordinator and Refill Wales is officially launched by Hannah Blythyn, (then Environment Minister).
- Number of Refill Stations in Wales on the Refill App hits 700
- Refill Wales becomes a member of the Wales Clean Seas Partnership, working with Welsh Government and organisations across all sectors to tackle marine litter, develop sustainable solutions and support the delivery of the Marine Litter Action Plan for Wales.
- Hafren Dyrfrdwy hold a Refill Action Day in Wrexham signing up businesses as Refill Stations.
- Swansea University become Wales’ first Refill University by signing up all their refill stations on both campuses.
Winter
- Refill Wales joins the Welsh Marine Advisory and Action Group, a forum for discussion and debate, and the provision of support and advice to the Welsh Government, on strategic marine and coastal policy.
- There are now 11 Refill Schemes being run in communities by Local Champions.
- Refill Wales helps to launch Cardiff Metropolitan University’s/Keep Wales Tidy’s Coffee Cup Recycling campaign.
2019
Spring
- Refill Wales hits over 1000 Refill Stations on the Refill App.
- Hannah Osman and Dwr Cymru present a joint assembly and workshop for school children in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
- Refill Wales is included in the Wales Coast Path Toolkit, a free, on-line resource which has been designed to help coastal businesses market their business.
- Dwr Cymru install water refill stations at Hay Festival.
Summer
- Refill Wales celebrates National Refill Day on the 19th
- First Minister, Mark Drakeford officially launches three new water fountains at Cardiff Airport.
- Environment Minister, Lesley Griffiths launches Refill Mermaid Quay Scheme in Cardiff Bay with local school children
- Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn launches new water fountains at Belle Vue Park in Newport.
- Dwr Cymru install permanent water refill stations around the Royal Welsh Show ground and added to the Refill App.
- Vale of Glamorgan Council install 14 new Water Bottle Filler Refill Stations in parks and public spaces.
- Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society install water refill stations for the first time at the County Show and added to the Refill App.
- Conwy Castle, Tintern Abbey and St David’s Bishop’s Castle have a new water bottle filler Refill Station installed in the grounds by CADW.
- There are now 50 Refill Schemes active in communities across Wales run by Local Champions.
Autumn
- Welsh Government agrees second year of funding.
- Caerphilly Castle, Raglan Castle and Harlech Castle have new water bottle filler Refill Station installed in the grounds by CADW.
- There are now over 1600 Refill Stations in Wales on the Refill App.
- Every large community along the Wales Coast Path has a refill station.
- Cardiff Half Marathon install water refill stations in the Runners Village for the first time.
- Every Local Authority in Wales now has a Refill Station.
Winter
- There are 57 Refill Schemes active in communities across Wales.
- Natural Resources Wales and Anglesey County Council install three new water refill stations along the coast path.
- Refill Wales Twitter and Facebook channels hit the 1000 followers mark!
2020
Spring
- There are now over 60 Refill schemes in Wales.
- Welsh Government announce plans to ban single use plastic from next year.
- Refill Wales hits over 1800 Refill Stations on the Refill App.
- Refill Wales focuses on providing support for Visit Wales, water companies Dwr Cymru and Hafren Dyfrdwy and local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preventing plastic pollution at source
These are far from ordinary times and while many Refill Stations are currently closed, the Refill team are still here and still doing what we do best (albeit in a slightly different way!) – preventing plastic pollution at source, providing practical solutions and spreading some much-needed positivity and love. Here are some ways to get involved whilst under lockdown.
1
Toilet Training for adults – are you flushing the #unflushables?
2
Get involved in our #RefillAtHome campaign on social media by sharing photos of how you are using your reusables at home.
3
Discover how to become an Armchair Activist and save the planet from your sofa!
4
Finally, make a brew and have a read of the latest Oceans of Optimism – our monthly round up of all the good things happening in the world.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about Refill Wales and what’s going on in that area please get in touch with Hannah, our National Coordinator.
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