The first of 10 new water refill points to be rolled out this year has been installed in Bow Churchyard Cheapside as part of the City Corporation’s Plastic Free City campaign.
The water refill point, sponsored by the Cheapside Business Alliance (CBA), comes as 43 business across the Square Mile joined the City Corporation’s war on single-use plastic waste. Together, these 43 companies employ over 61,704 people.
Some 149 of the City’s pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants have also become part of a network of water bottle refill stations, where the public can refill reusable water bottles – all found on the Refill app.
The campaign is a rallying call to businesses and individuals to reduce single-use plastics across the Square Mile.
It will see nine more water refill points installed this year near transport hubs, in parks and squares, and other areas of high footfall.
Jeremy Simons, chair of the City’s environmental services committee, said: “Our ambition is to make the City of London free of single-use plastics and harness the clear desire amongst City workers, residents and visitors to eliminate their use. By the end of the year, we will have brought the total number of water refill points across the Square Mile to 17.
“These points are a visible demonstration of our commitment to reducing and eradicating unnecessary single-use plastics, which are blighting our waterways and damaging our environment.”
Anne O’Neill, chair of the Cheapside Business Alliance, said: “There is no doubt that we could all do more to limit our use of single-use plastics – and reusable bottles and public water refill points are playing a vitally important role.
“This water refill point will give people in the area a place to refill and help drive down the use of disposable plastic water bottles.”
