A PROJECT aimed at reducing the usage of single-use plastic bottles has launched in Torfaen.

Refill Torfaen is hoping to make refilling water bottle as easy, convenient and cheap as possible, by introducing Refill Stations on every street.

The scheme encourages participating cafes, bars, restaurants, banks, shops, museums and other businesses to sign up to the free Refill app and put a sticker in their window alerting passers-by to the fact they’re welcome to fill up their bottle for free.

The average adult buys more than three plastic water bottles every week - a startling 175 bottles every year per person.

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In total, some 7.7 billion plastic bottles are bought across the UK each year, resulting in substantial amounts of single-use plastic waste ending up in our oceans.

City to Sea, a not-for-profit organisation headed by entrepreneur Natalie Fee, launched the award-winning Refill Scheme in 2015.

It is now being rolled out nationwide with full support of Welsh Government and water companies Dŵr Cymru and Hafren Dyfrdwy, with the aim of increasing the availability of high quality drinking water.

Local Champion Miles Thomas, who is helping to launching Refill Torfaen alongside a team of volunteers, explained why both businesses and their customers should get involved.

South Wales Argus:

A Refill window sticker in a business' window. Picture: Refill Scheme.

He said: “Here in Torfaen we’re rightly proud of the area’s stunning natural environment.

“Plastics, including single-use plastic bottles, are now the most frequently found type of litter on UK green spaces and beaches and you don’t have to look far to find them littering our towns and local environment too.

“Refill Torfaen gives everyone the opportunity to help make this type of litter a thing of the past at the same time as saving money.

“It’s good business sense as well, as customers view businesses that provide free water refills more favourably and are more likely to return to them to make future purchases.”

Refill Wales coordinator Hannah Osman said: “Every time we refill a re-useable bottle instead of buying and throwing away a single-use bottle we not only reduce the amount of plastic and fuel being used, we save a bit of money and help clean up our towns and open spaces too.

“We’re so excited to see the launch of Refill Torfaen which will make it easy to look out for the stickers or check the app to find out where you can refill for free.”

If you are keen on supporting this scheme, as a business keen on becoming a Refill Station or as a volunteer, get in touch: refilltorfaen@gmail.com or twitter @refilltorfaen