A milk supplier has been flooded with calls from people wanting traditional glass bottles to replace their plastic alternatives.

The Milk Company in Hatfield has received 800 calls since November from people in the St Albans district.

Owner Terry Dee said: “People are trying to do their bit to tackle plastic use and the effect it’s having on the wildlife.

“They are realising the damage it’s doing to the environment.”

Businesses are also installing taps for people to refill their water bottles with instead of using disposable plastic.

The Lower Red Lion on Fishpool Street, The Beech House and Waterend Barn on St Peter’s Street, Hare and Hounds on Sopwell Lane and Neal’s Yard Remedies in Christopher Place have all signed up to the Refill St Albans Partnership, a joint initiative pioneered by St Albans Business Improvement District, Affinity Water and St Albans district council.

The partnership will install two refill water fountains in the city centre and Verulamium Park by the end of 2018 to help support the campaign.

BID manager Helen Burridge said: “St Albans BID is delighted to support the national rollout of the highly successful Refill campaign.

“Although licensed restaurants, bars and cafés are already legally obliged to offer free water on request, the new network makes it clear to people they are welcome via both a card in the window and a location point on the mobile app. Businesses can demonstrate their eco-credentials while encouraging traffic through their front door.

“Right now UK consumers use 38.5 million plastic bottles every day, and only about half are recycled.

“This project is a good thing to do, at little to no cost to businesses. It’s a no-brainer! We’re encouraging businesses to sign up, but also encouraging consumers to sign up their favourite businesses, once you’ve had the owners’ permission.”

Businesses can get the Refill St Albans sticker by emailing sustainability@stalbans.gov.uk and registering on the Refill Beta app.

Residents can then download the app to find their nearest tap.

For more information on the app visit www.refill.org.uk