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After a difficult year, a shop which is tackling the war on waste has celebrated its first birthday.
The Circle Refill Hub, the first of its kind in Medway, was set up by Liz O'Hanlon.
The Rainham mum had been living in the area for ten years and noticed there was a growing demand for a zero waste service in the Towns.
She said: "It was started because I was looking for a refill centre for myself and the nearest one was in Faversham."
The idea is that people bring their own bottles to the shop in Parkfield Road, Rainham, and can fill them up with household and beauty items - from laundry liquid and cleaning sprays, to hand wash, body wash and shampoo.
The first lockdown last year gave Liz the opportunity to put her plans into motion and pilot schemes at local fairs helped attract more interest in the project.
She said: "This year has been so challenging, three lockdowns - we had to close because cleaning products were not deemed as essential - but as Plastic Free July comes to a close, we are reflecting on what an incredible year it has been.
"More and more people in Rainham are becoming more eco friendly and using a waste free service has been an easy way to make small and easy changes at home."
The mum-of-two said the message is not to pressure people into becoming "eco warriors" overnight but rather to make it accessible for all, and she encourages people to make small changes.
Liz said: "We are passionate about finding simple solutions to be more sustainable in our busy lives, to protect our delicate planet, where we can, in the war against plastic.
"We are also committed to ensuring that shopping sustainably does not make things more expensive whenever possible.
"We want people to shop happily, knowing they're becoming more sustainable and helping to reduce waste.
"We stock a number of gorgeous beauty, body and domestic products to refill. You can use your own bottles or we have stunning glass bottles here for you to buy, love and re-use for years to come. We also stock eco-friendly household products, sourced as locally as possible."
She added: "We cannot do everything, but, together, we can do something and millions of small changes are so valuable."
You can book an appointment to visit the shop or order by 6pm on Sunday for home delivery.
Visit www.thecirclerefill.com or you find them on Facebook or Instagram.
