In alignment with our exhibit Washed Ashore, we are making changes throughout the Garden to help all of us make sustainable choices. This particular change included replacing our old drinking fountain with one that allows guests to refill reusable water bottles, saving plastic bottles from entering a landfill or waterway.
Why does this matter? When the materials used to create single-use plastic bottles break down in the ocean or landfills, their chemical and physical properties change, increasing the risk of toxins being absorbed or ingested. Plastic has found its way into our soil, water, food and bodies.
How can you help? Refuse to buy another single-use plastic bottle and instead use ones that can be refilled at a refill station.
In making this change, we also wanted to make an educated choice on which refill station we chose. So after doing our due diligence, we chose a water refill station with the following features:
- Hands-free filler operation
- Quick fill rate
- Energy-saving feature that powers down refrigeration system after an hour of non-use that will automatically restart
- Programmable shut-down to stop operation during closed hours
Thank you for joining us on our mission for a more sustainable future. To learn more about sustainability and the Garden in general, take our Washed Ashore Adventure Tour! Click here for tickets.
