Bottle refilling scheme 'a success'

A scheme at Killcare to encourage the re-use of plastic water bottles has been hailed a success after just two months.

Killcare Surf Life Saving Club secretary Mr Jim Woods said a filtered water dispenser for refilling bottles, installed in mid-October, had already dispensed more than 3000 litres of water.

He said the club was encouraging people to reuse and refill their own bottles instead of discarding them and purchasing new ones.

Mr Woods said that 3000 litres was the equivalent of 5000 plastic bottles saved.

The station had both a water fountain and bottle filling dispensers, and was installed after the club's committee decided to take action to reduce the numbers of water bottles littering beaches and waterways and ending up as landfill.

"Similar projects have been successful in the Southern Highlands town of Bundanoon and along the foreshore of Manly," said Mr Woods.

"We encourage other surf clubs and sport facilities to take this practical approach to caring for their local environment," he said.

The dispenser incorporates a .five micron activated carbon filter cartridge that will handle about 30,000 litres before needing replacement.

The $5000 project was jointly funded through NSW Communities Sport and Recreation Facility Grant Program and a local real estate agent, with a local plumber helping to install it.

Email, 5 Jan 2010 Jim Woods, KSLSC