Students have saved up to 15,833 plastic water bottles from going to landfill this semester.

But they haven't been going thirsty.

In February the Sustainable Development Office installed a filtered water refill station in the Guild courtyard. The refill station is the first of several that Recycling and Waste Management Coordinator, Alain Twynham, aims to have installed across campus to help decrease the number of plastic bottles that make their way into landfill.

Alain said 9,500 litres of water had been used from the refill station. "That's equivalent to 15,833 600ml bottles," he said.

The free refill station promotes a healthier lifestyle for students and staff. It is connected to the mains water supply, and filters out chlorine and other chemicals.

There has been immense support and positive feedback, especially from students.

"The water station is very popular and will hopefully permanently reduce the number of plastic bottles from UWA that end up in landfill," said Trish Howard from Sustainability Projects.

The Student Guild was supportive of the refill station's installation in the village and its associated environmental and health benefits.

The Student Guild's Environment Officer, Dan Stone, said it was "fantastic to see students given a meaningful alternative to expensive, environmentally degrading bottled water. The filtered water refill station is being used every time we look out the window. We have had only positive feedback from students, who want more water refill stations on campus."

A second refill station will be installed outside Reid Library, and is expected to be complete by August.

Media references

Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 00 700 783
Trish Howard (UWA Sustainable Development) (+61 8) 6488 7540