Students at Malone Integrated College have pledged to back NI Water's Refillution by carrying and refilling reusable water bottles provided by the utility.

Launched in 2019, the Refillution campaign aims to curb single-use plastics and lessen their impact on the environment and marine life. Over the past five years, NI Water has given out more than 50,000 reusable bottles to local schools, with participants taking NI Water’s Plastic Promise Pledge — to always refill from the tap, to always use a reusable bottle, and to always carry one.

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Northern Ireland consumes around 145 million single-use plastic bottles each year. Opting for a reusable bottle helps cut the number of discarded containers that can end up in rivers and seas. Refilling with tap water also lowers emissions, as bottled water is estimated to be 900 times more carbon intensive than tap water.

NI Water Education Officer Anna Killen commented: "We are always encouraging everyone to join NI Water’s Refillution campaign to stop buying single use plastic bottles and instead refill a reusable bottle with tap water. The water industry has a strong focus on the environment and NI Water is committed to tackling the problems caused by plastic bottles which block up our drains and pollute our rivers and seas. By switching to a reusable bottle, we can really make a positive contribution together to help reduce plastic waste and protect nature."