Plastic Shed
Plastic Shed is a community organisation that brings people together to tackle plastic waste through creative reuse. Plastic Shed collects plastic—mainly lids—from local residents and turns it into recycled products, workshops, and large-scale public art. In March 2024, Plastic Shed completed the UK’s largest 100% recycled plastic mural, involving 40,000 people and collecting over 400,000 lids. Plastic Shed’s work reduces environmental inequality, builds a stronger community, and empowers people to tackle action—improving wellbeing and reducing isolation along the way.
What will the Kao SEED Fund support?
The Kao SEED Fund will support Plastic Shed in expanding its network of Plastic Donation Stations across Stockport. These stations—hosted in local shops, libraries, and cafés—will make it easier for residents to donate plastic lids for reuse. By increasing access and reducing travel, the project will lower carbon emissions, support high-street engagement, and involve even more people in creative recycling. A new network of volunteers will be recruited to collect from each site, forming a borough-wide team of local eco champions.
Who is the project helping support?
Plastic Shed supports the people of Stockport by bringing the community together to tackle plastic waste in creative, accessible ways. It was set up to address both the environmental issue of plastic pollution and the social need for inclusive, hands-on opportunities that connect people with sustainability.
By reusing plastic that would otherwise go to waste, Plastic Shed gives individuals—from school children to older adults—a way to take positive action, reduce local plastic pollution, and feel part of something bigger. It was created to make recycling more visible, fun, and community-led, helping to ease climate anxiety, reduce environmental inequality, and build stronger local connections through shared purpose.
This funding will enable us to put plastic donation points in every area in Stockport to give communities easier access to donating their plastic to us, whilst lowering the carbon emissions for our plastic donors. These new donation sites could also help connect people more to their local areas in their neighbourhood, visiting places they may not have already. 
Caitlin Marie Atherton, owner at Plastic Shed
Impact of the project
The project will bring people together across Stockport to create a cleaner, more connected, and creatively inspired community. By expanding local donation stations, Plastic Shed will make it easier for people to recycle plastic lids, helping reduce waste and move closer to a plastic-free Stockport. Alongside this, a growing volunteer network will foster friendships, shared purpose, and stronger neighbourhood bonds. These connections will not only support the environment, but also lead to more vibrant public art made entirely from recycled plastic – turning waste into something beautiful, and community action into lasting impact.