A few steps from Venice's St. Mark's Square, a little girl fills her water bottle at a courtyard fountain, a haven of peace far from the hordes of tourists.
"Plastic bottles are super annoying to me," said 11-year-old Keira from Tucson, Arizona. "There is so much plastic in the ocean and everywhere."
Her father, Charlie Michieli, also believes in swapping plastic for refillable bottles: "You can go through quite a lot, especially on a long trip... litres and litres and litres of plastic bottles."
In Venice, which welcomes millions of visitors each year, tourism contributes to between 28 and 40 percent of garbage production depending on the season, according to local government data -- including piles and piles of plastic water bottles.
To combat the waste, local authorities now promote the use of refillable water bottles by calling tourists' attention to the vast network of drinking water fountains dotting the squares and alleys of the watery city.
"In the historic centre, there are 126 fountains spread over the area, they're easy to find, there's one nearly every 100 metres (330 feet)," said architect Alberto Chinellato in his city hall office overlooking the Rialto Bridge.
To make things even easier, water distribution company Veritas has launched an app showing a map with all the nearest fountains.
"Encouraging the use of free drinking water certainly produces less waste... but also brings fewer bottles in the historic centre, which means less pollution and less transport", said Chinellato.
Leaving Chinellato's office, AFP observed an empty plastic water bottle bobbing between two gondolas on the Grand Canal -- underscoring that the battle against plastic is far from being won.
- Little blue drop -
At the centrally located Hotel Flora, owner Gioele Romanelli has also decided to contribute to the crusade against plastic by educating his guests.
"We simply had a card printed on which we pointed out the fountains of Venice with a little blue drop," said Romanelli, proudly displaying a copy on a small bistro table.
"Not only with a refillable bottle, but also by recycling a small (plastic) water bottle you can keep all day," said the 49-year-old hotelier.
At check-in, guests are briefed about Venice's "good water".
"They are sometimes surprised to learn that the water in Venice is drinkable," he said.
"With this small gesture, our customers can actively participate in the battle against plastic," he said, seeing it as a way, in a city with "an insane number of tourists", to give them a certain sense of responsibility.
In addition to the card marking the city's fountains, the hotel has done away with single-dose shampoo and shower gel bottles in the rooms in favour of refillable dispensers.
At breakfast, plastic is something of the past, with the hotel now using small glass containers for muesli, dried fruit and yogurt, Romanelli said.
Venice is quickly recovering its tourist traffic following the coronavirus pandemic that robbed it of its economic lifeline.
But after reaching a total of 5.5 million visitors in 2019 -- eclipsing the city centre's 50,000 inhabitants -- officials are trying to limit arrivals.
From January, day visitors will pay a tax they've been able to avoid until now by not staying overnight.
The tax, priced between 3-10 euros (around $3-$10) depending on the number of crowds, will be payable online on a dedicated website.
It will provide visitors with a QR code needed for entry at the various entry points to the historic centre.
Reuters
Tue Jul 26 2022
![Venice pushes tourists to drink from fountains and shun plastic Venice pushes tourists to drink from fountains and shun plastic](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/41658808700_VENICE.jpg)
To combat the waste, local authorities now promote the use of refillable water bottles. - ETX Studio
AWANI Borneo [16/07/2024] – SUKMA 2024 | Sentiasa berwaspada | Pintu sempadan
AWANI Borneo Selasa, 16 Julai 2024 bersama Fauzi Zin.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan mudahkan urusan Imigresen
Malaysia dan Brunei akan mengadakan rundingan bagi memudahkan proses keluar masuk rakyat kedua-dua negara.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses Projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
Sentiasa berhati-hati, ribut petir diramal berlaku di Sabah
Orang ramai khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berisiko di Sabah disaran agar bersiap siaga terutama dari segi perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu yang seterusnya akan mengakibatkan bencana banjir dan pokok tumbang.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Venice kekalkan caj masuk lebih tinggi pada waktu puncak Venice kekalkan caj masuk lebih tinggi pada waktu puncak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720781256_TBStMarksSquare.jpg)
Venice kekalkan caj masuk lebih tinggi pada waktu puncak
Venice akan terus mengenakan yuran kemasukan bagi pengunjung harian apabila tempoh percubaan untuk caj itu berakhir hujung minggu ini.
![Na'imah peroleh pasport sementara ke London, Venice Na'imah peroleh pasport sementara ke London, Venice](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71705975527_TBTohPuanNaimah.jpg)
Na'imah peroleh pasport sementara ke London, Venice
Mahkamah memerintahkan Na'imah menyerahkan pasport kepada mahkamah selepas kembali ke Malaysia sebelum atau pada 27 Julai ini.
![Venice tidak disenarai sebagai tapak warisan terancam - UNESCO Venice tidak disenarai sebagai tapak warisan terancam - UNESCO](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/51694756318_Gondoliers.jpg)
Venice tidak disenarai sebagai tapak warisan terancam - UNESCO
Keputusan itu dibuat oleh sebuah jawatankuasa UNESCO yang sedang bermesyuarat di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
![Venice Grand Canal: Penduduk tidak suka penggunaan bot moden Venice Grand Canal: Penduduk tidak suka penggunaan bot moden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/51637529543_TBVeniceProtes.jpg)
Venice Grand Canal: Penduduk tidak suka penggunaan bot moden
Kerajaan dilihat tidak berbuat apa-apa berhubung penggunaan bot-bot moden serta kapal besar menelusuri terusan sungainya yang popular.
![COVID-19: Sekatan susulan masih dilaksanakan di beberapa negara COVID-19: Sekatan susulan masih dilaksanakan di beberapa negara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/81612055433_Greece.jpg)
COVID-19: Sekatan susulan masih dilaksanakan di beberapa negara
Antaranya di Greece, yang mana kebanyakan operasi perniagaan ditutup dan pihak berkuasa hanya membenarkan bawa pulang.
![Tonton wayang sambil menaiki gondola... Mahu cuba? Tonton wayang sambil menaiki gondola... Mahu cuba?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/81608870680_wayangfilipina.jpg)
Tonton wayang sambil menaiki gondola... Mahu cuba?
Mereka menaiki gendola yang dijarakkan antara satu sama lain sambil menonton filem yang ditayangkan.
![Pengemudi gondola bersihkan sungai, jumpa dapur dalam Grand Canal Pengemudi gondola bersihkan sungai, jumpa dapur dalam Grand Canal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-11/41572875261_GondolierscleanVen.jpg)
Pengemudi gondola bersihkan sungai, jumpa dapur dalam Grand Canal
Pengemudi gondola memunggut sampah-sarap daripada bahagian bawah terusan yang terkenal itu dalam kegelapan di sekitar Jambatan Rialto untuk enam jam.
![Gerhana 'Super Blue Blood Moon' sebab terusan Venice kering? Gerhana 'Super Blue Blood Moon' sebab terusan Venice kering?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-02/61517628175_VeniceCanals.jpg)
Gerhana 'Super Blue Blood Moon' sebab terusan Venice kering?
Venice bakal ditenggelami air? Lagi kering jadinya!
![Ceritalah ASEAN - Karya seni Asia Tenggara di Venice Ceritalah ASEAN - Karya seni Asia Tenggara di Venice](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-06/51497348174_CeritalahASEAN.jpg)
Ceritalah ASEAN - Karya seni Asia Tenggara di Venice
Karya seni dari Indonesia nampak kusam, dari Filipina tidak mengilhamkan, dari Thailand begitu begitu saja dan dari Singapura! Karya-karya dari Singapura penuh dengan keajaiban, misteri dan keindahan.