Müll - Wasted Opportunities - Recycling

Aim

To recycle plastic waste into beautiful purposeful objects; to minimise our communities environmental impact in a fun creative way.

Charlie from My Eco Order is setting up a new venture called Mull, turning our community’s plastic waste into beautiful, purposeful homewares. 

The Story –

This story starts back in 2018 by a lake in Switzerland. I was suffering from depression and took time out at my mum’s to take stock, refocus and re-evaluate every aspect of my life. 

I really believe that from tough times true creativity is born. 

Having the opportunity to consider what I really wanted to do and to discover my purpose changed my life for the better: I decided to embark on my eco journey.

The moment I got back to Brockley I began working, learning and getting involved in the environmental community. 

When the pandemic hit, like a lot of us, I lost all of my work, with no furlough and nothing to do; I partnered up with Lee Greens and began delivering their weekly veggies on bike, up and down the hills of South East London. Looking back I have no idea how I did it, I couldn’t even cycle up Harefield road now, let alone up and down hills with two boxes, a rucksack and basket full of veggies.

During one of my delivery days I cycled past what is now the shop. I’d always loved that specific spot, Patchwork (the previous tenants) had made it look so cool, I would always nosy in as I walked past. But on this day it was empty and I just couldn’t help myself, I had to find out more. So the lovely Em from The Orchard passed on the landlord's details; I viewed the space that same week and offered straight away.

Fast forward almost two years and we’re still here and that’s because of you all. It’s been such a journey and I value each and every one of you. Our laughs, tears, and everything in between. I feel like it’s become more than a shop, it’s a community space, where we’re open and comfortable, sharing our good and bad times, and helping each other through them.

My Eco Brockley is much more than I’d ever hoped it could be. I’d always liked the idea of having a shop similar to the one in ’You’ve Got Mail’ with Meg Ryan dancing about with the regulars and local kids…which isn’t too far from my space but I hope my ending isn’t the same as her book shop.

Although it has been an amazing experience and the shop was doing well enough to cover its bills, as you all might already know, the shop is facing closure. If something doesn’t change the shop will be closing at the end of July.

BUT, I’ve got a solution - one that will have a much bigger impact on the community, AND would mean I am able to continue providing refills, and keep the shop going. 

The Project –

So here is the plan: I'm on a mission to reduce our plastic waste and create the first community recycling system of this kind.

I will collect your plastic waste from local drop off points around Lewisham (to begin with) and recycle it here in Brockley.

The recycling involves shredding and reforming your plastic waste into beautiful, purposeful homewares. Cutting out the very long and flawed recycling system, and saving your plastic from polluting the environment.

Expect soap dishes, combs, coasters and much more. Plus, once the venture is up and running, there will be workshops so that you can recycle your own plastic, all using green energy. The hope is to change the conversation around plastic 'waste'. Plastic is a material to be reused and recycled, not discarded, and we can all be part of this. Let’s turn the tide on our waste! 

I’ve already paid the deposit for the Precious Plastics machinery, so I’m completely committed to making this project work - I hope you feel the same. 

I will still provide you with all the liquid refills, toiletries, cleaning products and skincare, as well as a few select items of food, tea and coffee in store. The majority of the food is having to be relocated online only via Loop Food to accommodate the machinery. 

Why –

You’re probably wondering why I’m doing this when we already have recycling in Lewisham.

In the Lewisham Borough only 26% of our waste is recycled, the London average is just 34.4% and only 10% of plastic ever made has been recycled.

The recycling system is flawed and what goes to the ‘recycling’ facility is just cleaned, sorted and sold. Most of the UKs plastic waste ends up traveling all over the world, with 2/3 of our plastic ending up in Asia and Europe.

According to The Story of Plastics this is the current recycling/waste stats for plastics -

32% Of Plastics end up polluting the environment

40% Enters landfill

14% Is incinerated polluting the local environment and impacting the health of those close by..

14% Is recycled… but only 2% is effectively recycled, the other 12% is downgraded and can’t be recycled again.

Of all plastic that has ever existed half has been made in the past 15 years, and

according to Vox, BP expects plastics to represent 95% of the net growth in demand for oil from 2020 to 2040. According to CNBC In 2020 Petrochemicals comprised 13% of ExxonMobiles annual income, 6.5% of Shells, so breaking demand for new plastic is essential to tackle climate change.

We can give up plastic bags, ban straws and do our refills but until there is systematic change, progress won’t happen fast enough. Especially when we have a government funded by fossil fuel companies who invest in growing plastic production.

Which is where Müll comes in. In case you’re wondering what the name is all about - Müll is German for trash, which felt very fitting because my whole eco journey started off at that lake in (German speaking) Switzerland. 

What if together we can create our own change, and spread this through other communities in London, and hopefully to other countries more impacted by our waste? This is the beginning of a new form of activism. 

This starts in the Borough of Lewisham but is limitless where this could go. And I hope you join me on this journey, it's time to stop relying on the government to act. We can create change together, and see how this project grows. We just need your support with this campaign.

Cllr Louise Krupski, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Action, said: “This is a fantastic example of residents taking action to help tackle the Climate Emergency in an innovative and creative way. I can’t wait to see how this exciting project evolves and would encourage local residents to get involved.”

Our community of businesses have been very generous with donating rewards for this campaign, so please go check them out, and get a reward for your donation.

We'll be thankful for any size donation, big or small. Every penny will help us get closer to the target and get this project off the ground. 

To check out the products click here 

These  photos are to demonstrate the shapes of the products that will be made. They aren't photos of the real thing... just my limited ability at photo editing. The molds are currently being made. Every product will be unique to you, as every item will have slightly different recycled plastics. You will even be able to come along to a work shop and recycle your own waste. 

Thank you to our little eco warriors for taking part in this video! 

This project successfully funded on 23rd June 2022