REMO is delighted to be approved £12,000 in funding from Fenland District Council via a Fenland Environmental Education Grant to deliver our exciting Fentastic Plastic project.
This investment from Fenland District Council will enable REMO to strengthen and grow its Plastics recycling capabilities – creating new opportunities for local people to learn practical skills through creative and sustainable activities, learn about recycling technologies, and directly see the recycling process.
It will enable people to experience transforming discarded materials they may see as worthless in to useful everyday items, diverting waste from landfill and helping to change people’s conception of plastic materials.
Request a Visit
The Fentastic Plastic project is mainly based at our REMO Eco Hub in March, but is capable of going on the road!
Groups such as schools, community or youth groups, litter picking volunteer groups, etc., can request a site visit from REMO to come to their schools or group location in: March North Ward, Elm, and Whittlesey.
We welcome donations of suitable plastic for use in our machines to make new things such as buttons, drawer handles, carabiners and so much more!
We especially love clean coloured plastic that has had all labels removed.
Expressions of interest can be sent to [email protected]
Project benefits
The Fentastic Plastic Project will offer work experience, volunteering and enterprise programmes to groups of young and young at heart people. The project includes the facilities to set up a plastic sorting, weighing, shredding, and manufacturing production line that we and other community groups can use to create products.
Ongoing Sustainability
The products created by the volunteers will be retailed in the onsite retail shop and through the REMO webshop. We will use social media to raise awareness and drive traffic towards these opportunities to purchase which will enable us to raise funds from the sale of these products which will be used to improve and expand the initiative offering opportunities to schools and uniformed community groups to learn and earn money for their own charitable purposes too.
We believe that it is important to inspire local Fenland residents to utilise waste plastic as a resource that they can reimagine, reuse and create opportunities for themselves and others.
Sustainability issues Addressed:
Motivation
We have spent 20 years talking about plastic at community events, on the radio and conferences. We believe that there is a huge opportunity to create a cottage industry of products and services that serve people and protect the planet.
We have found that people generally want to the right thing and want to recycle their plastic and are frustrated when they can’t find or don’t understand what types of plastic can go in their recycling bins.
This leads to wishcycling popping it into the recycling bin regardless of whether its what the council’s waste partner can economically recycle. This leads to contamination. The additional thing to remember is that even plastic that is put in the right bin still has to travel many miles before it becomes something new.
Fentastic Plastic aims to help educate residents into understanding that when properly identified and sorted plastic can be a valuable resource.
There are lots of community groups struggling for funding and things to do with their volunteers. Here at REMO we believe in turning problems into opportunities. Rather than ordering plastic things from across the world we can make them locally utilising technology that’s already available.
We are motivated to do this because not everyone who has a great idea has the financial means or experience to bring their vision to life. With Fentastic Plastic Project we will ensure that anyone who has an idea gets the chance of being supported with their creative enterprising idea.
Our Experience
REMO Social Enterprise believes that accessing home essentials and creative opportunities doesn’t need to cost the earth. For 20 years, we’ve been on the frontline of rescuing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling materials to create sustainable, useful and creative products and services. With help from our community members and resellers, we’ve already diverted a million litres of paint and hundreds of tonnes of furniture, food and creative materials from landfill.
In 2005 we began raising awareness about reusing and recycling at a time when some councils didn’t have recycling services. Since then, we’ve expanded the initiatives under our colourful umbrella, contributing to the circular economy by reducing waste and keeping a wide range of resources in use for as long as possible.
Nikki DiGiovanni – Development Director, one of the original founders has innovated in paint and workwear remanufacturing, written and delivered waste awareness and enterprise training for many organisations including international projects for universities and is regularly requested as a speaker for events because of her knowledge and expertise in developing community led circular economy initiatives.
We have two locations in Fenland, an online shop and are excited by this project for grassroots community plastic recycling.
Get Involved
REMO is currently recruiting for the three new technically skilled roles and expanding its programme of Repair Cafés and upcycling workshops.
To find out more about membership, volunteering or upcoming events, visit:
www.remo.org.uk/news or www.facebook.com/remotrading @remo_trading
Media Contact: Nikki DiGiovanni – Development Director REMO Social Enterprise
01354 607667 / 07905951735 Email: [email protected]
About REMO
REMO is an award winning social and environmental enterprise based in March, Cambridgeshire, committed to sustainability, inclusion and community-led innovation. Through practical projects and shared spaces, REMO has spent over 20 years empowering people to reduce waste, build skills and create positive social change.
