Free water for those who arrive with water bottles.
The Italian municipality of Falconara, Ancona, has joined the project promoted by Ata Rifiuti with the support of Viva Servizi: the first shopkeepers are ready to distribute.
Some shops in Falconara are also part of the network of the “L’acqua non va l’insù” (“The water doesn’t go upwards”) project, promoted by Ata Rifiuti with the support of Viva Servizi, to which the Municipality of Falconara has subscribed along with 20 other municipalities. A project created with the aim of returning to drinking from local sources, reducing packaging and consequently reducing the amount of waste, and raising awareness of the consumption of a public good of primary importance: water.
The project promotes the use of reusable water containers, such as water bottles. The participating businesses will fill the bottles with free tap water or, for a small fee, with filtered water. Among the first businesses in Falcone to sign up are Caffè Leopardi in via Leopardi, Caffè Saccaria in via Bixio, La Mou pastry shop in via Marconi and Sforno pizzeria in via Italia. But there may be more soon. In the next few days, the Councillors for the Economy and the Environment, Ilenia Orologio and Elisa Penna, will be distributing the “L’acqua non va l’insù” (The water doesn’t go upwards) canteen in the participating establishments.
No money is needed, just a souvenir from one of the many drinking fountains in your city, a short story to share that will be collected in the city’s water diary, which can be found in the premises participating in the project. “This initiative allows us to create a network of traders who are committed to protecting the environment and raising awareness of the issues of waste reduction and resource valorisation,” commented the Councillor for Commerce, Ilenia Orologio. “We appreciated the cooperation of local companies.”
The Councillor for the Environment, Elisa Penna, added: “I thank the companies that have already decided to participate and invite all citizens to seize this opportunity. Change starts with small gestures that can make a big difference. Reducing the use of single-use plastics and encouraging the use of reusable water bottles is a concrete step towards protecting our environment.*
In the presentation note of the Ata Rifiuti project, it is stated that “modern habits lead us too easily to misuse disposable containers and, in particular, plastic bottles. Yet only one in five disposable plastic bottles is recycled, while the rest take between 400 and a thousand years to decompose. And then there are the public drinking fountains, the silent presence that accompanies the games, stories, walks and memories of citizens and tourists in every city. With generosity, the fountain gives free water to all. Public water also flows from home taps and public facilities, sometimes even with purifiers.
