A HUB dedicated to recycling plastic waste from the sea has been officially opened in Somerset.
The facility has been unveiled in Weston-Super-Mare by The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust charity, aiming to “turn trash into treasure”.
Plastic recovered from the waters is transformed into newly-reimagined items, such as keyrings and picture frames.
The hub has been installed at the trust’s newly-renovated headquarters, in a former public toilet building on Birnbeck Road, dubbed the ‘Loo-vre’.
Items made from the recycled plastic will be available for purchase, with funds generated going towards the trust’s long-term aim of restoring the Victorian-era Birnbeck Pier to its former glory.
The project was made possible by community solar farm, Burnham and Weston Energy CIC, which donated £8,000 to the project via a Sunshine Grant, which is currently welcoming applications from community groups in North Somerset.
With the grant, the trust purchased specialist machinery, such as a plastic shredder and an injection-moulding machine, allowing waste like discarded bottles to be transformed into useful items.
Volunteers will collect waste plastic from the shoreline and deliver it to the hub.
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Susan Cooke, from of the trust, said: “The most important part of this project is the educational aspect, and we’re imparting that message through creativity. People will hopefully stop and think about the amount of single-use plastic they purchase, and hopefully use less in the future.”
The hub opened to the public over the weekend, showcasing some of the machinery in action and introducing visitors to a range of artworks which decorate the interior.
Ribbon-cutting duties went to MP Dan Aldridge (Lab, Weston-super-Mare) and mayor of the town, Cllr Martin Williams.
Mr Aldridge said: “The thing I love about this is that everybody has contributed something, it’s the culmination of years of work going back to before the pandemic.
“Creative people doing creative things is really setting a tone for this area, while being focused on sustainability and education.”
Denys Rayner, of Burnham and Weston Energy CIC, said: “It’s great to see projects like this come to life. It’s a win-win for the area with the positive benefits this will have on the coastline, and the trust’s ambition to restore the old pier and give the area a real boost.”
“We are still welcoming applications from charities and community organisations in the area,” Denys added. “If you have an idea for something you would like to seek funding for, please head to our website.”
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