Help your community projects receive funding from Calor: Click here for more details

We did it
On 7th July 2021 we successfully raised £10,195 with 190 supporters in 28 days

Our aim is to purchase equipment to provide the community with a space to recycle the plastic waste collected from the island's beaches.

by Transition North Ronaldsay in North Ronaldsay, Scotland, United Kingdom

 New stretch target

The extra money will mean that we can buy a plastic injector and moulds - allowing us to create more complex products from recycled plastic! 


We are Precious Plastic North Ronaldsay and we want to kickstart the plastic revolution in Orkney. We are raising £9000 to build a plastic recycling centre, transform our beach plastic waste into new products and turn the problem into a solution.

1623083179_screen_shot_2021-06-07_at_17.22.36.png

We live in North Ronaldsay, the most northerly inhabited island in Orkney. A passionate group of us have been litter picking every weekend on our small island's beaches for nearly a year. Our group (complete with fearless children and Dave the dog) can spend hours combing the beaches and plucking fishing rope, toothbrushes and trainers from among the boulders and beneath the sand, often braving high winds to collect the winter storm's plastic delivery. Since starting, we have formed a social enterprise - Transition North Ronaldsay - which aims to take our litter picking to the next level. We are passionate about our environment, wildlife and community.

1622994836_litter_picking_team.jpg1623079928_photo-2021-06-06-22-20-49.jpg

1623143142_screen_shot_2021-06-08_at_10.04.26.png

1623083167_screen_shot_2021-06-07_at_17.23.11.png

North Ronaldsay has over 13 miles of coastline. With a population of only 60, that’s over 300m per person that lives there! 

1623083547_screen_shot_2021-06-07_at_17.32.00.png

Most plastics are used for mere minutes but will last in our ecosystems for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years. Not only are animals physically consuming and getting entangled in plastics, the plastics can also release harmful compounds such as hormone disruptors and carcinogens. These chemicals, and the physical microplastics themselves, then get passed up the food chain (termed bioaccumulation) so top predators such as whales are accumulating the highest levels of contaminants. Predictably, though distressingly, it's been found that humans are eating plastic too. Microplastics have been found in seafood, salt and water!

1623079138_img_1388.jpg1623079833_nfulmar-kuehn.jpg

Unfortunately Orkney Islands Council doesn’t support the collection of communal plastic recycling skips on any of the 13 outer isles. So from here the bruck (Orcadian term from rubbish) is taken on a ferry back to Mainland Orkney, then on to Shetland to be incinerated. Disheartened at the thought of our carefully collected rubbish being transported and burnt, we set out to find another way.

1623078802_waste_to_energy_plant.jpg

1623083154_screen_shot_2021-06-07_at_17.23.40.png

1622993637_1622993634881.pngAfter much head scratching and researching we stumbled upon Precious Plastics - a global initiative helping local people solve local problems. We believe that if people can get hands on and understand the processes involved they might rethink their opinions on waste and see it as the resource we know it is. Precious plastics has recently been turning disposed face masks into plant pots, carabiners, light boxes and much more. We hope to join their 80,000 strong global community.

We have also been inspired by Plastic@Bay, wh1622994973_1622994971262.pngo have set up a similar plastic recycling centre in North West Scotland.

1623083145_screen_shot_2021-06-07_at_17.24.14.png

The plastic is washed, shredded, melted and then moulded into new sustainable designs, which in turn can still be recycled at the end of their life. The products can then be sold among the community, reviving a circular economy that will benefit the people that live here for years to come.

1623007671_screen_shot_2021-05-29_at_21.29.46.png

1623083136_screen_shot_2021-06-07_at_17.24.39.png

This crowdfunder would allow us to site a container and build a workspace inside to store, sort and shred our island's waste plastic. The dream is to get an injector machine which uses moulds, and would allow us to create more complex plastic products, such as phone cases and plant pots. The sky will be the limit: jewellery, kitchenware, tiles, bird feeders, beams and bricks for building use are some examples of items we expect to be able to make.

We aim to start an outreach and education programme to promote recycling and remanufacturing of plastic waste in the local area, working with the public, businesses, schools and local groups.  

1623079268_img_4500r.jpg1623079707_wdg_project_image1.jpg

We hope that in the future, the project will employ a plastic ranger to work on the site and collect plastic from the beaches, providing employment on the island and an apprentice scheme for young adults. 

1623083651_---__your_logo_to_export.png


If we raise £4000 through this crowdfunder the Calor Rural Community Fund could support us with an additional £5000. That would fulfill our goal of £9000! It’s true, the award is highly competitive but the good news is that no matter what - we get to keep the money raised from the crowdfunder for the project. To have the best chance possible of receiving this funding we need your support! For every page share and like we receive ONE POINT and for every donation a huge TEN POINTS.

1623083124_screen_shot_2021-06-07_at_17.25.04.png

Drinks coasters made from recycled plastic 1623008887_coasters.jpg

Hexagon bowl made from recycled plastic 1623008971_largehex1_3096x.jpg

Door mat made from upcycled fishing rope 1623008810_screen_shot_2021-06-06_at_20.45.34.png

1623080616_11609-easting-road-store-logo-98kb.pngAn independent family business, supplying general goods to the islanders including groceries and hardware supplies, as well as unique island produce, gifts, souvenirs and eco-friendly products.

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation.

£10 or more

Recycled Plastic Coaster

You'll get a completely unique coaster made from recycled plastic! Plus 10% discount code to use online at www.eastingroadorkney.co.uk

£1 or more

Discount at Easting Road Store

10% discount code to use online at www.eastingroadorkney.co.uk

£8 or more

12 of 20 claimed

EARLY BIRD - Recycled Plastic Coaster

You'll get a completely unique coaster made from recycled plastic! Plus 10% discount code to use online at www.eastingroadorkney.co.uk

£25 or more

Recycled Plastic Hexagon Bowl

You'll get a completely unique hexagon bowl made from recycled plastic! Plus 10% discount code to use online at www.eastingroadorkney.co.uk

£35 or more

Set of 4 Recycled Plastic Coasters

You'll get a set of 4 completely unique coaster made from recycled plastic! Plus 10% discount code to use online at www.eastingroadorkney.co.uk

£35 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Surf Lesson

Gift certifcate for 1 person beginner/improver group lesson with North Coast Water Sports Surf School, Thurso.

£50 or more

16 of 25 claimed

Fishing Rope Doormat

Sea weathered and durable doormats that are woven from fishing rope which has washed up on our shores. Made from an assortment of colours. Plus 10% discount code to use online at www.eastingroadorkney.co.uk

£6 or more

40 of 40 claimed

A Unique Sheep

This 'Unique Sheep' is hand-painted on a pebble from the North Ronaldsay shore. They are each a little piece of North Ronaldsay! Your sheep will remind you that you helped to keep it's shore free from plastic.

£6 or more

2 of 2 claimed

Wool Mill Tour

Wool mill tour voucher, North Ronaldsay, Orkney.

£15 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Aal Fired Up Voucher

Voucher for £15 to spend at Aal Fired Up - pottery painting, cafe, teddy stuffing, ceramics

£20 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Afternoon Tea for 2

Afternoon Tea for 2 in a truly unique setting, next to ring tailed lemurs! At the Fern Valley Tea Room, Orkney.

£30 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Distillery Tour & Tasting

Distillery tour and tasting voucher for 2 people at Orkney Distillery.

£50 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Kraken Diving, Orkney

A voucher for buy 1 get 1 free on a 'snorkel safari' or 'try a dive' at the Churchill Barriers. Use by 31/10/2022

£200 or more

2 of 2 claimed

Your Name on a Plastic Recycling Machine

Want your name in lights or your business branding on the side of the machine? Well now is your chance! Once the machine designs are finalised we will work with you to make sure you are happy with the size and location of the branding and that's it. You'll be immortalised forever on our recycling machines. We will be working with children and the public so the name and any branding will have to be suitable for all audiences.

Got an idea like this?

Over £200 million has been raised from our crowd to support the projects they love! Plus tens of millions more unlocked by our partners.