Mid and East Antrim tackles plastic waste while promoting the NI Water Refillution Campaign

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council along with volunteers from Larne Barracuda Sub Aqua Club have collected a staggering fifty bags of rubbish, plastic and debris weighing over 2 tonnes from Olderfleet Beach on Tuesday evening. This clean-up was also supported by NI Water as part of their Refillution campaign.

The Refillution campaign is aimed at encouraging everyone to commit to refilling a reusable water bottle with our world-class tap water and stop buying single use plastic bottles. This will reduce plastic waste. With drinking water now at the highest quality on record, staying hydrated and reducing plastic waste is a win-win for everyone.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor, Maureen Morrow said: “Mid and East Antrim Council are pleased to support NI Water’s Refillution campaign. Council staff have already made a commitment to reducing its impact on the environment and have committed to a number of environmental objectives in 2019. Council staff are being encouraged to ditch single use plastic bottles and switch to a reusable one that can be filled from the tap. I would also encouraging local businesses, schools and communities to do the same.”

Northern Ireland Water Head of Environmental Regulation, Angela Halpenny said: “We are delighted Mid and East Antrim Council are supporting our campaign and taking the Refill message right across their Borough. Northern Ireland currently uses 145 million single use plastic bottles a year, that is over 11 million in Mid and East Antrim alone. We need to turn the tide to stop these entering our water courses.”

The next clean up event is at Portglenone Marina with Portglenone Paddlers doing a litter pick on the water in canoes and volunteers litterpicking the Marina area on Thursday 8^th August at 7pm Portglenone Marina. Everyone welcome.

Get involved! Just hashtag #Jointherefillution #Refillution @niwnews @JoinRefillution and start sharing with your friends!

For more information about the campaign visit www.niwater.com/refillution/