We’re supprting an initiative to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles by encouraging local businesses to sign up to a scheme to allow reusable water bottles to be refilled on their premises.
We're working with Refill to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles. Nationally Refill has launched similar schemes all over the country with thousands of businesses joining their scheme to promote where reusable water bottles can be filled up for free. Those already supporting Refill schemes include Costa, Premier Inn and Trinity Leeds – as well as water companies including Yorkshire Water.
Participating cafés, coffee shops, pubs, restaurants, take-aways and other businesses or venues in the town simply put a Refill sticker or poster in their window – alerting customers and passers-by to the fact that they’re welcome to come in and fill up their own re-usable bottle with wonderful Yorkshire tap water … for free!
There’s also a free Refill rewards app that can be downloaded to smart phones to see where you can Refill on the go in Selby (and beyond) or add new Refill stations yourself! Find out more and download the app at: refill.org.uk
You can also view the Selby businesses who have signed up on our new interactive map.
The Council is acting as a local co-ordinator for the scheme. We're talking to groups in Tadcaster and Sherburn to see if we can help set up schemes in those places too. We want to see as many local businesses getting involved as possible.
Why are we doing this? Single-use plastic bottles use up valuable natural resources and generate carbon emissions to make, fill, pack and transport. They also create mountains of waste once we’ve gulped down the contents. Here in the UK, an estimated 800 plastic bottles a minute are either ending up in landfill, or as litter - which will too often make its way into our waterways and out to sea.
Reducing the amount of single-use plastic bottles in our district will have a significant impact on littering and waste. If a class of 30 kids filled-up just once a week instead of buying water or other drinks in single-use plastic bottles, then they would stop almost 1,600 bottles from entering into the waste stream or being littered in our town every year!
We've had a fantastic response so far with lots of local cafes signing up to the scheme however we'd like to add more to the network.
To volunteer and help us sign up even more local businesses please email communications@selby.gov.uk or call Julie on 01757 292087 to find out more.
So which local businesses are already signed up?
The Malt Shovel, Ousegate, Selby
Little Coffee House, 8 Brook Street, Selby
The Cafe @ Selby Train Station
Little Miss Muffins, 21 Gowthorpe, Selby
Micklegate Tea Rooms, Micklegate, Selby
Hope Yard Cafe, Micklegate Selby
Escapologist, New Lane, Selby
The Hub, Market Cross, Selby
Mister Cs, Micklegate, Selby
Regen Centre, Riccall
NFU Mutual, Selby
Market Lane Tea Rooms, Selby
Fresh 4 U Salad Bar, Finkle Street, Selby
Lots of businesses in the Sherburn area are also joining the Refill revolution. The scheme in this area is run by volunteers - find out more by visiting their Facebook page - search Refill East Leeds Rural.
Bean In Coffee Shop, Sherburn Industrial Estate
Fenton Flyer pub
Fields Garden Centre & Kitchen
Monk Fryston Post Office and Stores
Old Girls' School Community Centre
We'd like to thank these local businesses for signing up to the scheme.