Refill Ramsbottom

Bottle fountain brings fresh, free tap water to Rammy as part of refill campaign

Having access to free tap water is not simply the good choice for the environment, but for your health too!

Refill Ramsbottom, co-ordinated by Plastic Free Rammy, has been running in Ramsbottom since December last year.

Now with the support of Eunomia, United Utilities, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Bury Council, they have secured a permanent outdoor water bottle Refill Station to give the residents and visitors an additional way to get a top up of tap while out and about in town.

Chairman Dominic Hogg from Eunomia said:. “We’re proud to help fund this fountain as it will help reduce consumption and littering of plastic bottles, helping in a small way to address the problems of plastic pollution and of climate change. It is important that people stay hydrated and have access to ways of refilling either at participating refill outlets or at fountains like this one.”

Situated in the heart of the Incredible Edible Garden, it becomes part of the fantastically green community of Ramsbottom. Not only can you top up with tap, you can grab some freshly grown local herbs for your tea too.

Pete Fillery of Plastic Free Rammy and Incredible Edible Ramsbottom said: “We think our fountain is INCREDIBLE, it’s the perfect place for people to ‘refill’ and help themselves to any of the free edibles we’ve got growing in Market Place. We’re so grateful to all the organisations that helped make this happen. Alongside the plastic free motion that was passed by council and helped us achieve our first Surfers Against Sewage objective and in turn our Plastic Free Community status, it shows real commitment in reducing plastic waste and supporting our community.”

The fountain comes as part of a pilot scheme being run over the Greater Manchester region to accompany the locally led Refill Schemes signing up local businesses to provide free tap water to passers-by.

The PlasticFreeGM scheme is delivered by GMCA and is asking businesses, organisations and individuals to take the pledge to take action to reduce avoidable single use plastics across Greater Manchester. It works with campaigning partners to provide information and advice to guide more sustainable choices.

Refill Greater Manchester is a part of the efforts to reduce use of single use plastics in the city-region. Earlier this year the first fountain was installed in St Mary’s Park, Prestwich and a number of cafes and restaurants have already signed up as free Refill Stations.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: “In Greater Manchester we are committed to stamping out avoidable single-use plastics. Fountains like this one are just one way we are trying to do this, making it easier for people to use refillable bottles and cutting down on the amount of plastic waste harming our environment. This is a really positive scheme that I hope people will make the most of.”

The average adult buys more than 3 plastic water bottles every week*1 – a startling 175 bottles every year per person. In total, some 7.7 billion plastic bottles are bought across the UK each year, resulting in substantial amounts of single-use plastic waste. Having access to free tap water is not simply the good choice for the environment, but your health too.

Chris Matthews, Head of Sustainability, United Utilities added: “We’re delighted to be supporters of the Greater Manchester Refill campaign and to be helping Refill Ramsbottom provide locals and visitors with great tasting tap water on the go. I can’t think of a better to place to install the fountain, at the heart of the Incredible Edible Garden, to encourage more people to ditch single-use plastic and live sustainably”.

Find out more about Refill and how you can take part at the Refill website at www.refill.org.uk/refill-greater-manchester. Download the free Refill app and find out more about the Refill movement.

“Refill ramsbottom is run by plastic free rammy, a community volunteer campaign working together to ditch single use plastics in their town.”

The average adult buys more than 3 plastic bottles every week – that’s 175 each year!