NEW DRINKING FOUNTAIN NEAR OLD STREET HELPS TO CUT SINGLE-USE PLASTIC WASTE

The London Drinking Fountain Fund has installed a new drinking fountain near Old Street, which was launched on Monday (11 February 2019).

A new drinking fountain at a busy spot near Old Street Station – the first on the public highway in Islington – is offering passers-by free water refills to help cut plastic waste.

It is the first of six new drinking fountains for Islington in a joint project from Islington Council, the Mayor of London and #OneLess.

The fountain stands on the Promenade of Light close to Old Street Roundabout, conveniently located for the thousands of workers, visitors and local residents who walk nearby each day. It was launched today (11 February), with volunteers offering free refillable water bottles to passers-by.

The new fountains are part of Islington Council’s commitment and ongoing work to cut the use of single-use plastic in the borough. Globally, it is estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean every year, where it harms animals, damages the environment, and enters the human food chain.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “Drinking fountains are win-win – they help people cut down on plastic waste, and also help people to get free water when they are out and about.

“We’re determined to take action to help cut single-use plastics, which are so harmful for our environment. This new drinking fountain, in this busy location at the heart of Old Street, is our first on the public highway, and will serve thousands of local residents, workers and visitors to our city, and help to cut plastic waste.”

“It is the first of six new fountains for Islington thanks to funding from the Mayor of London. Islington’s six new water fountains are a vital part of our ongoing commitment and work to reducing plastic waste, especially single-use plastic.”

The council is bringing this new drinking fountain to Camberwell, with help from the London Drinking Fountain Fund, which has been established by the Mayor of London and #OneLess, a campaign led by the Zoological Society of London, to reduce single-use plastic water bottles in the capital and tackle ocean plastic pollution.

The scheme will be adding a further drinking water to Southwark, at Guy’s Hospital.

New #OneLess refill station in near Old Street Station, Islington 

Most of the council’s fountains can be found in its parks, leisure centres and libraries. They give people easy access to free water and the ability to refill water bottles on the go, thus reducing the use of single-use plastics.

Dr Heather Koldewey, co-Director of the #OneLess campaign and Head of Marine and Freshwater at Zoological Society of London, said: “This new public fountain will make it easier for Londoners to keep hydrated on the go without using single-use plastic water bottles, which could end up in the River Thames or our ocean.”

“We are delighted to be working with Southwark Council on this exciting initiative to reduce the plastic blight on the ocean and firmly establish London as a city that no longer uses plastic bottled water.”

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues said: “Water fountains are a simple but effective way to encourage Londoners and visitors to switch from plastic bottles to reusable ones. With the hot weather we’ve seen this summer, the demand is greater than ever for quick and easy ways of accessing free drinking water and I’m pleased see these fountains now appearing in public spaces across London. They’re already proving popular and City Hall is working on plans to install many more to benefit both thirsty Londoners and the environment.”