Hackney gets six new water fountains as council continues fight against plastic waste

Six new water fountains have arrived in Hackney as part of Town Hall efforts to combat plastic pollution.

The refill stations were rolled out last week at London Fields Lido, Clapton Library, Homerton Library, Shoreditch Library, Clissold Leisure Centre and Hackney Marshes Centre.

These join fountains installed last year at Mabley Green, Hackney Marshes Pavilion and Dalston CLR James Library.

The council says the station at the latter has saved the equivalent of 7,500 plastic bottles since it opened in July.

Cllr Jon Burke, cabinet member for waste and public realm, said: “A shocking 38.5 million single-use plastic bottles are consumed in the UK every day, producing vast amounts of waste and over three million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions. 

“Having eliminated 225,000 single use plastic bottles from the Hackney Half Marathon and [introduced] the first estate-based reverse vending machine in the country, Hackney Council is determined to do everything we can to help residents eliminate unnecessary plastics and reduce the amount of ‘virgin’ plastics produced in the first place.

“The new fountains, which form part of our ambitious action to tackle the Climate Emergency, will help people fill up on the move and minimise the amount of plastic they use – preventing unnecessary waste from blighting the planet.”

The refill stations are part of a council pledge to bring in an additional 26 across the borough, and with new on-street fountains to be installed this year, Hackney looks set to have a total of 38 by 2022.