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The Success of Water Refill Stations Reducing Single-Use Plastic Bottle Litter

Author

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  • Kathryn Willis

    (School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart Tasmania 7000, Australia
    CSIRO, Oceans & Atmosphere, Hobart Tasmania 7000, Australia
    Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart Tasmania 7000, Australia)

  • Britta Denise Hardesty

    (CSIRO, Oceans & Atmosphere, Hobart Tasmania 7000, Australia)

  • Joanna Vince

    (School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart Tasmania 7000, Australia
    Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart Tasmania 7000, Australia)

  • Chris Wilcox

    (CSIRO, Oceans & Atmosphere, Hobart Tasmania 7000, Australia)

Abstract

Bottled water is one sector of the beverage industry that has recently experienced substantial growth. The littering of plastic water bottles and the carbon emissions produced from bottled water production results in harmful effects on the environment. To reduce the harm of bottled water production and litter, government and non-government organisations have implemented litter abatement and behavioural change strategies targeting bottled water consumption and subsequent loss of bottles to the environment. Our study evaluated the success of one of these strategies, which is a filtered water refill station, implemented along the Brisbane River in Queensland, Australia. We found plastic bottle litter decreased after a water refill station was put into operation. However, given the location of the refill station, we suggest the behavioural change strategy employed did not reach its full potential. We highlight factors that could be employed to achieve maximum benefits when implementing similar behavioural change strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathryn Willis & Britta Denise Hardesty & Joanna Vince & Chris Wilcox, 2019. "The Success of Water Refill Stations Reducing Single-Use Plastic Bottle Litter," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:19:p:5232-:d:270224
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. José Ramón Díez & Iñaki Antigüedad & Elena Agirre & Arantza Rico, 2018. "Perceptions and Consumption of Bottled Water at the University of the Basque Country: Showcasing Tap Water as the Real Alternative towards a Water-Sustainable University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Berman, E.R. & Johnson, R.K., 2015. "The unintended consequences of changes in beverage options and the removal of bottled water on a university campus," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(7), pages 1404-1408.
    3. Laurent Lebreton & Anthony Andrady, 2019. "Future scenarios of global plastic waste generation and disposal," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Takuro Uehara & Alayna Ynacay-Nye, 2018. "How Water Bottle Refill Stations Contribute to Campus Sustainability: A Case Study in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-19, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthew Bethurem & Beth Choate & Stephanie Bramwell, 2021. "Stop Piling on: Assessing Efforts to Reduce Single-Use Water Bottles at Allegheny College," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-12, August.

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