Guernsey Water adopted the refill scheme five years ago, after 11-year-old Destiny Hollyer-Hill presented the idea to the States committee for the Environment & Infrastructure.
Pictured: Destiny Hollyer-Hill at the Cobo refill station when it opened last year.
The initial refill scheme came in during 2018, and during 2021 the first permanent refill station was installed at the Liberation Monument. Now there are seven across the island at the KGV, the reservoir (Les Annevilles entrance), Cobo Bay (public toilets), Portelet (between the kiosk and slipway), the Bathing pools and at Bordeaux kiosk.
“Six years ago, when I first asked for my reusable bottle to be refilled at a beach kiosk I had no idea that it would lead to over 60 refill points in 2023,” said Destiny.
Those 60 refill stations include various businesses and organisations which actively promote that they will refill a water bottle on request.
“I wrote to about 100 businesses and actually went and asked a lot of them in person,” Destiny said.
“Guernsey Water, Plastic Free Guernsey and Guernsey Waste have been amazing right from the start and my big wish at ten years old was to have the stand alone refill points, and that came true because of Guernsey Water in 2021.”
Pictured: Guernsey’s first permanent refill station was installed in town.
To ensure continued water quality, the water available from all refill stations is tested regularly by Guernsey Water technicians.
Alex Kosmas from the Health Improvement Commission said it’s a great community initiative.
“It is really encouraging to see the additional refill stations that have been installed by Guernsey Water across the island. Such initiatives support our community to be able to drink water as it is freely accessible, available, and appealing. The locations chosen are hotspots for our families, children and also for tourists. During key events such as the Island Games, when we experience an influx of people from other places, everyone will benefit from these new installations.
“This work supports the projects we have been carrying out across early years, schools, sports clubs and States settings, as water is the main and healthiest option for all to hydrate.”
Destiny said she is pleased the refill stations are so popular.
“I love seeing them about being used and the other day saw a queue of cubs or scouts at the Cobo one and felt really chuffed.
“It’s fantastic that Guernsey is right up there with the rest of the world to reduce plastic use.”
Pictured top (l-r): Mads Norman (Secretary of Plastic Free Guernsey), Destiny Hollyer-Hill (who presented the Refill scheme to the States of Guernsey at the age of 11), Tina Norman-Ross (Waste Prevention and Recycling Officer, Guernsey Waste) and Margaret McGuinness (Water Quality Risk Manager, Guernsey Water) (picture credit Chris George).
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