Proposals to reduce plastic waste in London

The Mayor of London wants to introduce new water fountains and bottle-refill stations across the capital to help reduce the use of single-use plastic water bottles.

Sadiq Khan also wants to experiment with getting businesses and companies to make their tap water available to the public, the Guardian has reported.

A large proportion of plastic water bottles end up buried in landfill sites or littering the ocean, and numbers have revealed that more than half of the plastic bottles bought in 2016 were not collected for recycling.

Michael Gove, the environment secretary, has also revealed that greater access to drinking fountains across the country is being considered as part of the government’s bid to cut plastic waste.

Exclusive data gathered by the Guardian reveals that while the borough of Lambeth has 25 drinking fountains around its parks and open spaces, many others have none, and no plans to install any.

A spokesperson for Khan told the Guardian: “The mayor wants to see a reduction in the amount of single-use plastic bottles and cups across the capital and has asked City Hall officers to examine the feasibility of a pilot community water refill scheme, or other interventions.

“Sadiq supports boroughs in identifying suitable locations for water fountains and bottle-refill stations during the planning process in new or redeveloped public spaces, such as town centres, shopping malls, parks and squares.”