Refill

We already know that we’re using too much plastic. In 2018, the UK generated 34.21kg per person of plastic packaging waste. More than almost any other country in the world – only the US is worse. And if things carry on as they are, the amount of plastic waste produced around the world is set to double by 2040.

Recycling is not the answer

We have often thought that recycling is the answer to our plastic packaging waste (one of the 3Rs right?). In West Sussex, kerbside collections have a recycling rate 53% (well above the national average of 44%). However, there are many types of plastics that can’t be recycled or can only be recycled once before they are no longer fit-for-purpose. Even products like plastic refill pouches have a finite life and are difficult to recycle. So, finding an alternative to using plastic is a better solution. Reducing our usage of plastic packaging means less waste and no packaging at all. But if this isn’t possible, why not try refilling old containers?

Alternative to the Plastic Problem

In a recent survey by Refill:

92% of UK adults said they were concerned about plastic pollution.
In a bid to reduce plastic pollution, 78% said they have taken steps to reduce their use of single-use plastics.
81% of UK adults said they want the UK government make refillable products easier to buy and more widely available.

Making changes to remove the packaging from purchases will help to reduce waste problem.

Making changes to reduce packaging

City to Sea have been running an award-winning campaign to fight plastic pollution. They have an excellent website www.refill.org.uk where you can find your local refill shops for coffee refills, free water refills and zero waste shops. They also have an app that you can download and use on the go.
Start small. Make just one or two changes at a time and build up bit by bit.
Go collapsible. Invest in a collapsible water bottle or coffee cup, they’re easier to fit in your bag and you’re less likely to forget them.
Use a refill service. More and more refill shops are popping up in Sussex.
Go naked. Choose unwrapped options when shopping for fruit and veg.
Plan ahead. It may take some planning as using refills often means buying in bulk…but there are savings to be had.

Refill Shop at Sussex Green Hub

Our monthly refill shop with household products can save you money.

We offer a personal and household cleaning product bottle refill service at the Sussex Green Hub on the last Saturday of every month.

Bring your empty bottle and we fill it, you just pay for the liquid, it’s simple as that!

Find out more

Refill coming to supermarkets

Some supermarkets are trialing refill schemes as there also seek to reduce packaging waste across many products.
Loop is a company working with many brands across the UK to create suitable refill products. For example, Herbal Essences shampoo in aluminium metal refillable containers. They are also working with supermarkets and retailers to provide the refill service instore.

Refill and Zero Waste Shops

What is a zero waste shop (or we call the a less waste shop)? Simple a shop which purchases products in bulk, then sells as a refill service (customer using their own container) or offering products with less or recyclable packaging and planet friendly products. Any bulk food not sold by near its use by dates must have a destination (going to food banks or into composts, for example). A zero waste shop enables customers to live a more zero waste lifestyle through eliminating packaging and encouraging the use of containers from home to fill …Note some of these shops offer just a bottle refill service, not the full zero waste service. If you know of others not on our list please use our contact page to tell us about them, so we can add them to our site.

West Sussex

Horsham District

Amberley – Amberley Eco Hub, St Michael’s Church Hall, Church Street, Amberley, BN18 9ND – Household and personal hygiene bottle refills – 2nd Saturday of the month 10- 12 noon.

Billingshurst – Arun Valley Pharmacy Station Road, Billingshurst, RH14 9SE – household and personal hygiene bottle refill

Billingshurst – Austen’s 48-52 High Street, Billingshurst – household cleaning product bottle refill only Ecover.

Henfield – Cornerweighs Elm Lodge, Caudle Street, Henfield, BN5 9DQ – large selection of refillable dried food and household products – bring in any container.

Horsham – Horsham Community Fridge Pop-Up at St Andrew’s Church, Crawley Road, Roffey RH12 4DX – 1st Saturday of the month 10am-10.45am. Bring your bottles and fill up on anti-bac cleaner, washing up liquid, non-bio laundry liquid, toilet cleaner and white vinegar. All priced per 100g. Soap bars, eco eggs for the washing machine and bamboo toothbrushes. Cash only.

Horsham – Plastic Free Refills Horsham market stall on Thursdays and Saturdays – household and personal hygiene bottle refills with Miniml: environmentally friendly, vegan & ethically sourced plastic-free products for your home.

Horsham – Sussex Green Hub United Reformed Church, 45 Springfield Road, RH12 2RG – Last Saturday of the month 10am-2.30pm. Household cleaning and personal hygiene refills and concentrated products.

Horsham – Town and Country Weigh, 7 East Street, Horsham, RH12 1HL – food refills open 9.15am – 4.30pm Tuesday – Saturday. Independent, local provider of a wide range of products. As the name suggests customers can bring own containers if they prefer and buy amount required (weighed at till). Wide range of refills include; rice, flours, cereals, dried fruits, lentils/pulses, nuts and chocolate buttons. Also stocks local honey, pasta, noodles, soy sauces, chilli sauces, herbs and spices, sea salt, jams, cooking oils, wild bird food and duck food.

Pulborough – The Greenhouse at Stane Street, Stane Street Nurseries, Codmore Hill, Pulborough, RH20 1BQ – household and personal hygiene bottle refill, dry food and oils refills.

Pulborough – Beneficial Health 48 Lower Street, Pulborough, RH20 2BW – household and personal hygiene bottle refills …Faith in Nature: Shampoo, Conditioner, Bodywash and handwash and Ecover laundry liquid, washing up liquid and fabric conditioner. Ecover laundry liquid 1.5L is normally £11 for a new bottle but for a refill it’s £8.80. Ecover Washing up liquid new £3.10 per litre and refill is £2.50.

Shipley – Shipley Community Hub, The Andrew Hall, Shipley RH13 8PH – Household and personal hygiene product bottle refills and other zero waste products. 1st Tuesday of the month.

Steyning – Green & Healthy 70 High Street, Steyning, BN44 3RD – Faith in Nature personal hygiene and some household cleaning product bottle refills.

Steyning – Budgens 88 High Street, Steyning, BN44 3RD – some dried foods eg nuts.

Steyning – Steyning Store and Post Office 44 High St, Steyning BN44 3NA – laundry and cleaning product bottle refill.

Storrington – Chanctonbury Leisure Centre Spierbridge Road, Storrington, RH20 4BG – personal hygiene and household cleaning product bottle refills – Thur 5-10pm & Fri 8am – 2pm.

West Chiltington – West Chiltington Post Office, RH20 2JW – household cleaning products bottle refill only Ecoleaf.

Adur District

Shoreham-by-Sea – Best Health Food Shop 33 East Street, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5ZD.

Shoreham-by-Sea – Maxi’s Naked Food 8 High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DA. Wide selection of dried foods – pulses, nuts, seeds, pasta, dried fruit. Wide selection of household cleaning and beauty products. Refillable olive oils and vinegars.

Arun District

Arundel – Gaskyns Wholefoods 6 Queen Street, Arundel BN18 9JG. Personal hygiene and household cleaning product refill.

Bognor Regis – Eco Swap 1 Sussex Place, High Street, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1EG.

Chichester District

Chichester – Refilled Chichester 30 North Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1LX

Chichester District – lots of refill services listed on EcoChi’s website here.

Midhurst – Down to Earth 8 West Street, Midhurst GU29 9NQ. Food & bottle refills inc. Ecover, Bio D and Faith in Nature

Mid Sussex District

Burgess Hill – ZERO HUB CIC, 25-27 The Martlets, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9NN – a not-for-profit environment-focused hub aiming to bring community together for the interest of people and planet, offering food cupboard, your bathroom and household cleaning supplies refills, less packaging and eco products.

Lindfield – Cloughs Deli 27 Sunte Avenue, Lindfield, Haywards Heath offer a wide range of packaging free and refills products.

Lindfield – Ounce, 68 High Street, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, RH16 2HL – a modern general store with packaging free food and refills.

Poynings – Rushfield Garden Centre Henfield Road, Poynings, BN45 7AY -Fill soaps, gels, lotions etc, pasta, beans and pulses and “who gives a crap” toilet paper.

Worthing District

Ferring – Rassasy 50 Ferring Street, Ferring, West Sussex, BN12 5JP.

Worthing – Best Health Food Shop 27 Broadwater Street West, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 9BT.

We are have mainly worked in West Sussex but are spreading our net. Please tell us about any zero waste, refill shops or repair cafes which are not on our site through our contact page.

East Sussex

Hailsham – Simply Weigh 2b St Mary’s Walk, Hailsham, BN27 1AF.

Hove – Harriets of Hove 48 Blatchington Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3YH.

Ticehurst – Buy the Weigh 28 High Street, Ticehurst, East Sussex, TN5 7AS.

Just over the border!

Surrey

Cranleigh – For Earth’s Sake Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8AU they refill bottles with nearly everything. Take your own containers for dried food i.e oats, flour, sugar, herbs etc.

Reigate – New Leaf Zero Waste Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8BB. Plastic free shopping for household products and food cupboard essentials.

Bramley – The Little Pet Shop Bramley – Bramley, Surrey, GU5 0HB. Zero waste pet shop.

Hampshire

Petersfield – Aylings Garden Centre Trotton – Rogate, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 5ES. Food zero waste range.

Zero Waste Shops online

Milk & More milk delivery has a zero waste service. They now offer refills for cereal, rice, pasta, coffee and tea delivered to your door with your milk delivery.
Good Club deliver household and food staples direct to your door in refillable, returnable packaging. The service professes refills without the premium price tag and a carbon neutral next day delivery.