Inspired by the Sky Ocean Rescue campaign, a region of the UK has created the country's first local circular economy.

The traditional system of getting rid of waste is linear: packaging is made, used and disposed.

But the local authority in Cambridgeshire along with a local plastics processor and packaging company have joined together to create a model which is circular.

In this way, packaging is removed from bins in the street, cleaned and processed and then recycled back into plastic to be reused by manufacturers and bought by consumers.

Image: Recycling plastic is much more energy and time efficient than recycling an alternative, says Charpak

The company behind the scheme, Charpak Ltd, has been working on the project for the past 18 months.


It became operational early this year and it is hoped it will add value to plastic as a resource and also cut back on CO2 emissions because all the work will be carried out locally.

Justin Kempson, sales and innovation director, said: "This is a collaboration across multi-agencies, working together to re-purpose and reuse plastics and to create value in that.

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"The benefit with then be felt locally and that is what is unique in the UK. A lot of people are talking about a local circular economy, we are creating it."

The long-term goal is to provide a framework that can be easily replicated across the UK, reducing the carbon footprint of recycling as every part of the process is carried out locally.

Heidi Field, waste manager from Huntingdonshire District Council which helped work on the project, said: "The main aim is to encourage people to recycle more and, from a residents' point of view, is to see the end product as well, to see what happens to their waste which we have collected from their kerbside."

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According to Charpak, recycling plastic is much more energy and time efficient than recycling an alternative.

Mr Kempson said: "Recycling plastics is approximately one third of the energy cost of recycling carton board and uses a tenth of the water when recycling corrugated or pulp paper. But what we need is for people to recycle more."

Those behind the local circular economy are calling for more people to recycle plastic so they can continue to ensure it is a valuable resource that can be used and reused forever.

:: Sky News will broadcast live from 300 metres down in the Indian Ocean next month. The series - called Deep Ocean Live - will examine the impact of plastic pollution, and includes the first ever live programme from submersibles in the twilight zone.

:: Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at www.skyoceanrescue.com