Refill your reusable water bottle with tap water while on the move, stay hydrated and help reduce plastic consumption and pollution.
That is the message from Geoffrey Boot MHK on the eve of National Refill Day (Wednesday 19 June).
UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man operates Refill Isle of Man, part of the British Isles-wide Refill scheme run by City to Sea.
Some 124 premises Island-wide have already signed up to display the scheme’s distinctive blue sticker, appear on the app and offer free cold tap water refills to anyone who calls in requesting them.
Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said:
‘It’s important to stay hydrated when out and about, exercising, shopping or sightseeing,’
‘Refill Isle of Man encourages people to carry a reusable bottle and fill it up at a Refill Station.
‘We’re lucky enough to have excellent-quality drinking water due to the nature of our upland catchments, reservoirs and treatment processses.
‘Offering easy access to our wholesome Manx tap water means fewer plastic bottles will be bought. The drop in demand will mean less plastic is manufactured using oil, a finite resource.
‘And we will hopefully see fewer plastic drinks bottles entering our environment, killing and injuring wildlife and spoiling the appearance of our Biosphere.’
The Isle of Man Government is delivering the first part of its plastic plan within the public service and wider measures are due before Tynwald for approval next month.
The Minister said:
‘It is great that so many premises have signed up as Refill Stations. We haven’t yet enjoyed the hot temperatures of last summer but I hope everyone will take advantage of these stations to fill up their reusable bottles free.’
Follow UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man’s social media channels for news on Refill Isle of Man.
To find Refill Stations, download the app. To sign up as a Refill station, email Refill@gov.im
The Refill scheme – slogan Have You Got the Bottle? – featured on new BBC1 TV series War On Plastic last week.
