Zero Waste Made Easy: Your Guide to Our Eco-Refill Stations

What Are Eco-Refill Stations?

Eco-refill stations are the future of sustainable shopping—and they’re available right here in Stockport at Waterhouses Quality Food.

Instead of buying pre-packaged products that come with unnecessary plastic, you can bring your own containers (or use our paper bags) and fill up with exactly the amount you need. No waste. No excess packaging. Just pure, quality products.

Since 2019, we’ve been committed to being 95% free of single-use plastic, and our 50+ eco-refill stations are a huge part of that mission.

Why Refill Stations Matter

The Plastic Problem

Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in landfills and oceans. Much of it comes from single-use packaging—bags, bottles, containers, and wrappers that are used once and discarded.

Even recyclable plastic often isn’t recycled. In fact, only 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled. The rest? It sits in landfills for hundreds of years or pollutes our environment.

The Refill Solution

Refill stations eliminate the need for single-use packaging entirely. By reusing the same containers over and over, you:

✅ Reduce plastic waste dramatically
✅ Lower your carbon footprint (less packaging = less production and transport emissions)
✅ Buy only what you need (no more half-used bags of rice going stale!)
✅ Save money (refills are often cheaper than pre-packaged equivalents)
✅ Support a circular economy (reuse, not single-use)

What Can You Refill at Waterhouses?

We offer over 50 refillable products across multiple categories, so you can shop sustainably for your entire household.

🌾 Natural Dried Foods

• Rice (white, brown, basmati, jasmine)
• Pasta (various shapes and sizes)
• Lentils, beans, chickpeas
• Quinoa, couscous, bulgur wheat
• Oats, granola, muesli
• Nuts and seeds
• Dried fruits
• Flour, sugar, baking essentials

🧴 Household Products

• Laundry detergent
• Washing-up liquid
• Multi-surface cleaners
• Fabric softener
• Eco-friendly cleaning supplies

🧼 Personal Care

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash
• Hand soap
• Natural skincare products

How to Use Our Refill Stations

It’s simple! Here’s how:

Step 1: Bring Your Own Container

Bring any clean, dry container—jars, bottles, tubs, bags, whatever you have at home. 90% of our refill customers bring their own containers, and we love it!

Step 2: Weigh Your Empty Container

We’ll weigh your empty container first (called the “tare weight”) so you only pay for the product, not the container.

Step 3: Fill It Up

Choose your product and fill your container with as much or as little as you need.

Step 4: Weigh & Pay

We’ll weigh your filled container, subtract the tare weight, and you pay only for what you’ve taken.

Don’t Have a Container? No Problem!

We provide paper bags for your refills—still plastic-free, still eco-friendly.

The Environmental Impact

Let’s put this into perspective. If just 100 customers switched to refills for 5 products per month, we’d collectively:

🌍 Eliminate 6,000 plastic containers per year
🌱 Reduce carbon emissions from packaging production and transport
♻️ Divert tons of waste from landfills

Now imagine the impact when thousands of customers make the switch. That’s the power of refill stations.

Why 15% of Our Customers Love Refills (And You Will Too!)

Currently, 15% of our customers use our refill stations, with an average transaction of £10. These eco-conscious shoppers are leading the way in sustainable living—and we’re here to make it easy for everyone to join them.

What our refill customers love:

• Flexibility: Buy 50g or 5kg—whatever you need
• Freshness: Products are restocked regularly
• Quality: We source high-quality, natural products
• Savings: No paying for fancy packaging
• Feel-good factor: Every refill is a small act of environmental care

Our Commitment: 95% Plastic-Free Since 2019

In 2019, we made a bold commitment: to become 95% free of single-use plastic. Here’s how we did it:

✅ 50+ eco-refill stations for food, household, and personal care
✅ Paper bags instead of plastic
✅ Package-free fruit and vegetables (sold loose, as nature intended)
✅ Reusable and compostable alternatives wherever possible

We’re not perfect, but we’re constantly working to reduce our environmental impact—and we’re proud to help our customers do the same.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Switching to refills doesn’t mean overhauling your entire life. It’s about small, sustainable swaps that add up over time.

Start with one product—maybe rice, or pasta, or laundry detergent. See how easy it is. Then add another. Before you know it, you’ll have eliminated dozens (or hundreds!) of plastic containers from your household waste.

Every refill matters. Every choice counts.

Join the Refill Revolution

Shopping sustainably shouldn’t be complicated or expensive. At Waterhouses Quality Food, we’ve made it simple, affordable, and accessible.

Whether you’re a zero-waste veteran or just starting your eco-friendly journey, our refill stations are here to support you every step of the way.

Visit Our Refill Stations Today

📍 Waterhouses Quality Food, Stockport
🕒 Mon–Fri: 8am–6pm | Sat: 8:30am–5pm | Sun: 10:30am–3pm
🌐 www.waterhousesqualityfood.com
🛒 Shop online for click & collect or delivery
📷 Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for refill tips and eco-inspiration

Small swaps. Big impact. Let’s reduce waste together. 🌍♻️