Plastic Shed

At a time when the world grapples with the overwhelming challenge of plastic polution waste, Plasticshed has emerged as a powerful and inspiring model for change. More than a simple recycling center, this social enterprise based in Stockport, Greater Manchester, is a vibrant community hub, an educational resource, and a hub for creative innovation. Rooted in the philosophy that "plastic is an amazing material," the organization is dedicated to creating a more sustainable, greener, and cleaner society by transforming waste into valuable new products and, in the process, strengthening community bonds.

A Vision Born from Shared Purpose

The idea for Plasticshed was first inspired by two brilliant projects: the Precious Plastic global network and the Men’s Sheds movement. The Precious Plastic initiative, an open-source movement, provides blueprints for a suite of machines that can be used to shred and melt plastic waste, turning it into new, useful objects. The Men's Sheds movement, on the other hand, highlights the power of bringing people together to work on shared, meaningful projects, reducing social isolation and building camaraderie.

Plasticshed’s founder, Rachel Lewis, a former filmmaker passionate about social justice, recognized that plastic waste was an issue that transcended social, political, and economic divides. In her research, she found that over 80% of people in the UK were concerned about the issue, making it a powerful catalyst for collective action. In a world that often feels divided, she saw an opportunity to bring people from all walks of life together with a shared purpose.

Make a notebook from plastic waste and scrap paper! | Plastic Shed

Rachel began testing workshop ideas in 2019, soon connecting with fellow co-directors Caitlin and Camilla, who shared her passion for creative solutions to environmental problems. From its earliest days, Plasticshed was a collaboration, a testament to what a small group of dedicated individuals could achieve by working together.

In 2020, Plasticshed was offered an empty shop unit in the Merseyway Shopping Centre by Stockport Council. This became their permanent home—a physical space where they could invite the community to get involved, from dropping off waste plastic to participating in workshops and volunteering.

The Process: From Waste to Wonder

Plasticshed’s operations are a meticulous and collaborative process that transforms plastic destined for landfill into a range of beautiful and functional products. They primarily focus on two specific types of plastic that are not widely recycled by local councils: HDPE (High-density polyethylene, found in bottle lids) and LDPE (Low-density polyethylene, found in soft, stretchy plastic bags). They also work with PVC Vinyl banners, which are typically used for advertising and then discarded.

The process is broken down into a series of steps, all of which are done in-house and with the help of community volunteers:

1. Collection: Plastic waste is collected from a network of dedicated collection points across Stockport, Greater Manchester, and from partner organizations.
2. Sorting and Cleaning: This is a crucial first step. Volunteers sort the plastic by type and color, a process that is both educational and meditative. They meticulously clean each piece to ensure the final product is of high quality.
3. Shredding: Using open-source Precious Plastic shredder machines, the cleaned plastic is broken down into small, uniform flakes. This shredded plastic is the raw material for their creations.
4. Melting and Moulding: The plastic flakes are then heated to their melting point and either pressed into sheets or poured into moulds to create new items. Because different types of plastic have different properties and melting points, the process is precise and requires an understanding of the material. HDPE, for example, becomes a liquid that can be poured into various moulds, while LDPE is often layered and ironed to create a strong, fabric-like material with unique patterns.

This hands-on process allows the community to see the value in their plastic waste, turning a frustrating environmental issue into a positive, creative, and educational experience.

Workshops and Community Engagement: The Heart of the Mission

While the recycled products are a tangible outcome of their work, the true heart of Plasticshed is its community engagement. The organization believes that by working together, people become

"better connected, happier, healthier and more resilient."

They run a wide variety of creative and educational workshops for people of all ages, from children as young as three to adults. The workshops are designed to be accessible, practical, and fun. Examples of their offerings include:

• HDPE workshops: Participants learn how to shred and melt bottle caps to create durable items like clipboards for schools, planters for restaurants, or custom signs.
• LDPE workshops: Using an ironing and layering technique, people create unique and colourful items like notebook covers, wallets, or tote bags from discarded plastic bags.
• Art installations: They collaborate with festivals and communities to turn large quantities of plastic waste into public art, using creativity to raise awareness about the scale of the plastic problem.

Beyond these hands-on sessions, Plasticshed also provides an educational resource for schools, businesses, and private groups. They offer a "Sustainability Hub" and online tutorials, sharing their knowledge and skills to empower others to start their own upcycling projects. This commitment to open-source sharing and education reflects the core values of the Precious Plastic movement that inspired them.

Social and Environmental Impact

Plasticshed operates as a Community Benefit Society, which means its primary purpose is to serve the community and its mission. Its impact is multifaceted:

• Environmental: The most direct impact is the diversion of plastic waste from landfill and incineration. By creating a local recycling loop, they reduce the environmental cost of long-distance transport and reduce the demand for virgin plastic. They focus on plastic types that often fall through the cracks of municipal recycling, making their work all the more critical.
• Social: The organization’s workshops and volunteer opportunities combat social isolation by bringing people from different backgrounds together. They create a space for people to work on a shared purpose, building empathy and solidarity. The skills learned are practical and can even lead to new hobbies or entrepreneurial ventures. The projects, like supplying planters to local cafes or clipboards to schools, also directly benefit other local businesses and community groups.

In essence, Plasticshed is a powerful and inspiring example of grassroots innovation. It demonstrates that the solution to worldwide problems can often be found at the local level, driven by passionate individuals and a strong sense of community. By turning plastic waste into something of value, they are not just creating products; they are building a more connected, resilient, and sustainable community from the ground up.