Feels good to refill

Choosing reusable drink bottles keeps plastic drink bottles out of the environment.

So smash your thirst with water that makes you feel good and refill every time you need a drink.

Places you can refill on the go [RefillNZ website]

If you do buy a drink in a disposable glass or plastic bottle, please recycle it. Most drink bottles are easily recycled.

Kiwis use at least 1.76 billion plastic containers each year. The most common is the single-use plastic drink bottle. New Zealand has one of the highest rates per capita of waste production in the OECD. This is not how we want to lead the world.

Refilling is a simple solution to keep plastic bottles out of the environment. Let’s make a move away from disposable to reusable. This will put less pressure on our precious environment and create less plastic pollution.

New Zealanders have proven we can lead the way in environmental protection. Just last year by working together we got rid of single-use plastic shopping bags. The Ministry has significant work underway on waste and plastic waste. This includes the design of a  beverage container return scheme, regulated product stewardship for a number of problem waste streams, and the landfill levy expansion. We also have work underway to form a plan to phase out low value and hard to recycle plastic packaging.

Thanks to Basketball NZ, Refill NZ, WasteMINZ, Auckland Council, Auckland DHB, Wellington Council, Z Energy and Para Kore for their support for this campaign.

RefillNZ has done an incredible job of mapping refill stations.

Want to do more to reduce plastic pollution or waste?

Choose to reuse or refuse disposable plastics

Replace another disposable item in your life with a reusable one (eg, coffee cup, takeaway, lunch, or deli container). Say no to unnecessary single-use plastics like straws and plastic cutlery. For more ideas, check out the Plastic Free July website.

Buy goods with the least amount of packaging

Buying goods free from unnecessary packaging is a great way to reduce your waste. It also supports brands that are actively reducing packaging.

Buy in bulk

Items such as chips, nuts, crackers and yoghurt sold in multi-packs (packaged in single-serves) create extra waste. Why not buy a bigger bag and divide the contents into reusable containers or jars at home? Some stores will allow you to fill your own containers – which means you shop waste-free.

Refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle

With so many low-cost goods available, many of us buy new items without thinking twice. To turn around New Zealand’s poor track record on waste, we all need to think about what we’re buying.

Ask yourself: do I really need this item?

If the answer is yes, could you:

• buy it second hand or rent or borrow it instead?
• fix what you already have or use something else instead?
• If you do decide to buy, choose a product that will last and can easily be repaired. Consider too if it can be ‘unmade’ after use (ie, the item’s materials can be recycled or returned to nature).