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Switch to a reusable water bottle

Blue reusable water bottle with pink background.

Wednesday 24 February 2021

Did you know that 7.7 billion single-use plastic water bottles are used every year in the UK? In Essex, if we all stopped using plastic bottles we'd save 277,500,000 bottles each year!

Although plastic bottles can be recycled in your kerbside collection, only a little over half of all plastic bottles make it into the recycling bin in the UK. But there are some easy changes you can make to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles you throw away.

Carry a reusable water bottle and refill for free

In the UK, we are lucky to have some of the best drinking water in the world.

Free tap water is now available all over the UK thanks to the Refill scheme. All you need to do is carry a clean reusable water bottle, look for the Refill logo in shop windows or download the Refill app and pop in-store to ask them to refill your reusable water bottle.  It's thanks to hundreds of local businesses in Essex that it's now easier than ever to refill your reusable water bottle on-the-go. 

By using Refill stations you will be reducing single-use plastic bottles, saving yourself some cash, and also making it easier to avoid those sugary drinks on-the-go.

Recycle your plastic bottles

Sometimes you may not be able to avoid using a plastic bottle, but you can recycle them using your kerbside collection anywhere in Essex. Give your plastic bottle a quick rinse, squash it and pop the lid back on, then it is ready for your plastic recycling bin or sack.

Find out more about plastic

Ideas to help reduce your plastic

Plastic recycling in Essex

Tips to improve your recycling

What's the difference between biodegradable, compostable and eco?