Two Peterborough organisations join forces to tackle Britain’s plastics problem
Two Peterborough-based organisations have joined forces in a new partnership they say could help tackle Britain’s plastics problem—by keeping waste local and turning it directly into usable products.
Circular economy innovator ReallyRecycle and sustainability consultancy Oakdene Hollins will work together to help organisations transform plastic waste into everyday items on site, reducing reliance on complex national and international recycling systems that often fail to return materials to productive use.
The collaboration will focus on helping organisations in Peterborough—ranging from local businesses and industrial estates to public sector sites—turn plastic waste into useful products on demand, without it leaving the city.
At its simplest, a “circular economy” means keeping materials in use for as long as possible, rather than throwing them away after one use. Instead of the traditional “take, make, dispose” model, materials like plastic are reused, remanufactured, and turned back into products again and again—ideally within the same local area.
Across Peterborough City Council, and councils nationwide, there has been growing investment in recycling and waste collection systems. But turning that into a true circular economy remains a challenge.
The issue is control.
While councils oversee waste collection, they do not control the full lifecycle of materials. Once waste leaves depots and collection systems, it often enters complex supply chains involving contractors, exporters, and processors—many of which operate outside the local area.
This means that even when residents and businesses separate waste correctly, there is no guarantee it will be turned back into useful products. In fact, only around 1.9% of plastic waste collected for recycling in the UK is actually turned into another product, highlighting how much value is lost in the current system.
The new partnership aims to bring that value chain back into Peterborough.
Using ReallyRecycle’s technology, plastic waste generated in workplaces, depots, and facilities can be processed and remanufactured into everyday items—such as office supplies, maintenance parts, and operational equipment—directly at the point where the waste is generated.
Products can be created in as little as 25 minutes using compact “circular microeconomy units”, which can be installed at workplaces, council depots, NHS facilities, transport hubs, or large commercial sites across the city.
By keeping both materials and manufacturing local, organisations retain control over their resources and reduce reliance on external processing and global supply chains.
Both organisations have strong ties to Peterborough, making the partnership a notable example of local innovation addressing a national challenge.
Oakdene Hollins will support organisations in designing and implementing circular systems, while ReallyRecycle provides the technology to convert waste into usable products.
A spokesperson for ReallyRecycle said:
“In places like Peterborough, organisations are doing the right thing by separating waste—but they don’t control what happens after that. This partnership is about closing that loop locally, so materials are turned into products here, not lost somewhere down the chain.”
The initiative is expected to deliver tangible benefits for the city, including reducing waste sent to landfill or incineration, lowering emissions linked to transport and outsourced manufacturing, supporting localised production across Peterborough’s business parks and public services, and creating economic value from materials that would otherwise be discarded.
By enabling organisations to manage the full lifecycle of materials within the city, the partnership offers a more practical route to achieving circular economy ambitions.
If successful, it could position Peterborough as a leading hub for circular innovation—demonstrating how local control over resources can unlock both environmental and economic value.