Plastic recovery project nets Exeter runner-up in national awards

Published: 28 January 2021

A ground breaking project to collect and recycle plastics found on beaches in the South West has come runner-up in a national award.

The Ocean Recovery Project – a joint initiative between Exeter City Council, Keep Britain Tidy and South West water narrowly lost out at the MRW’s (Materials Recycling World) National Recycling Awards 2020.

The Awards took place this week at a virtual ceremony with the Ocean Recovery Project being awarded runner-up in the the Partnership Excellence – Public/Private Sector category.

The project was founded in 2016 and sees volunteers collect litter and washed up plastics from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

Plastics, including bottles, drums, crates and nets are sent to Exeter City Council’s Materials Reclamation Facility (MRF) where they are sorted and sent for processing.

The plastics are then turned into useful items like bins to go on beaches for beach cleaners to use and other items such as the world’s first ocean going kayak by Exeter City Council partnering with Odyssey Innovation

So far the project has collected well over 100 tonnes of plastics from the region’s beaches.

Matt Hulland, Exeter City Council’s Resource Recovery Manager, started the initiative. He said he was delighted with the national recognition.

“I am so proud to work for a local authority that is willing to take such a proactive part in furthering a regional collaborative solution to plastic waste in our environment,” he said.

Cllr David Harvey, Lead Councillor for City Management, said: “The work that Matt and his team have carried out at the MRF has been fantastic. It fills me with pride to see Exeter leading the line with such a worthwhile initiative to improve the environment.”