Lifeguard encourages pool goers to refill during Plastic Free July
A Wellington lifeguard is encouraging people to think twice about using single use plastic bottles by encouraging them
to refill their bottles instead.
Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre (WRAC) lifeguard, Breanna Ward, has put together an educational campaign teaching
pool goers about the harmful effects of plastics on the environment.
The campaign will run during Plastic Free July where people will be able to refill their own bottles using water
fountains and buy reusable drink bottles instead of single use ones.
Breanna put together the campaign to educate people about the effects of plastic waste on the ocean.
‘We hope that by teaching people about the impact plastic has, they’ll make the choice to refill the bottles they
already have and stop buying single use plastics. This will help stop plastic waste reaching our oceans and killing our
marine life’
‘Every time you make the choice to refill, you’re also making the choice to pick plastic out of a whale’s stomach or a
sea bird's mouth.’
Plastic Free July is an annual event that challenges people to reduce their plastic use. Breanna believes the event is
important because it gets people to change their consumer behaviour.
‘Going plastic free for a month is great because it encourages people to stop consuming plastics full-stop. It gets
people to focus on making a better choice for the environment right from the start and stop us relying so heavily on
recycling.’
Breanna also teamed up with Wellington-based non-profit RefillNZ to help spread the refill message throughout the North
Island in March this year. RefillNZ want to make tap water the drink of choice by empowering people to ask for free tap
water from local businesses.
‘Over 26 days, a friend and I cycled 1500km from Cape Reinga to Wellington. We spoke to 670 students from 13 schools
about the harm plastic is causing. We also signed up 27 businesses to become RefillNZ stations and offer free tap water
to people.’
Breanna is continuing her work as an ambassador for RefillNZ, signing up several cafes as RefillNZ stations in her local
suburb of Hataitai.
Useful links