Plastic recyclers and green-fingered gardeners: One Project Macclesfield to benefit from Co-op funds
An eco charity powered by an army of Macclesfield volunteers is to benefit from the Co-op.
By Alex Greensmith
Posted: Monday, 27th February 2023 3:23 pm
An environmental charity in Macclesfield will receive a handsome donation from the Co-op this year, thanks to Co-op shoppers who become members.
One Project Macclesfield is one of 15 local causes which serve the Macclesfield and Congleton area that the Co-op and their members will raise money for in 2023.
One Project Macclesfield combines the talents of Macclesfield residents Kate Ellis and Martin Handley, plus an army of volunteers.
Kate is an expert at making tricky-to-recycle plastics recyclable, spending hours cutting, sorting and preventing tough plastics from ending up in landfill.
Martin is proficient at gardening, and can be found getting his hands dirty in the One Project's various plots across town.
The sustainable outfit is based inside a warehouse on Turnock Street, but can be found all over the town.
Still a relatively new operation, Macclesfield Nub News met with One Project Macclesfield to find out what they'll spend the Co-op cash on, which will be presented to them later this year.
"How it works is the plastic recycling makes money to buy materials for the gardening", said Kate.
"We collect anything from milk bottle caps to old coins.
"We try to get as many recycling streams as possible, but not all of them make money.
"Some we donate to charities - like bras to breast cancer charities, blister packs to Marie Curie, plastic bottle tops to a community interest company in Stockport. We give our pens to Tytherington High School.
"With the exception of the containers that we sort items into, we don't spend anything on the plastic recycling [TerraCycle] side of OPM, it is all to raise money for the gardening which supports the local community."
Various floral displays they maintain throughout town include the space outside Cinemac, the planters outside Majestic, and La Dulce Vendima on Church Street.
One Project Macclesfield also maintains a large community garden on Wellington Street, which provides a space for smaller eco groups to cultivate cuttings and come together.
Martin has just taken on the allotment for Macclesfield youth charity Cre8, backed with One Project Macclesfield funds, with plans to let out flower beds to the community.
You may also know One Project Macclesfield from their Macclesfield Indoor Market stall, which raises money for them and gives surplus food out to the community at weekends.
One Project Macclesfield also has one of Macclesfield's two Ukraine charities under their umbrella called One Project Ukraine. The Co-op funding will go towards the gardening and recycling. however, the Co-op money will not go to this and not.
"Upcoming projects we're doing on the gardening side are tidying up Park Lane School's sensory garden, and working with Gawsworth Hall to create some raised beds for disabled people to do some gardening," revealed Kate.
"Martin is always looking for more wasted space to bring new life into. The cost of gardening is mostly on soil [peat-free] and compost.
"We put everything back into the Macclesfield community. We work closely with Macclesfield Children and Baby Library [who they have been sharing a Treacle Market stall with in recent months]. Our aim is to make Macc greener and bring that community element back in.
"We also hold free classes for children, such as teaching them about bird feeders or giving them things to do over Christmas. We want to organise a community litter pick soon too.
"It was Martin's idea to become a Co-op cause. But we'd both like to say thank you to both the Co-op and to anyone who chooses funds to be raised for us this year, we are really, really grateful.
"It is amazing that some of the other groups we already work with like Macc Wildlife Network are also Co-op causes for this year, so we are on the same journey together.
"It really helps us because everything we do is fundraised for by ourselves. So having that extended audience with Co-op is great, and they have been really helpful.
"For us, the term 'One Project' was always an umbrella term to work with other groups. And now thanks to the Co-op partnership we have worked for the first time with Friends for Leisure, one of the other Co-op local causes. I'm going to give a talk there teaching the children skills about recycling."
If you want to raise money for One Project Macclesfield just by buying groceries, become a Co-op member for £1.
Once you've become a Co-op Member, it doesn't cost you a penny to raise money for local causes, just make sure you scan your card when you do your shopping.
Make sure you've downloaded the Co-op app, so you can select the money you have raised to go to One Project Macclesfield.
Macclesfield: Join the Co-op today online at this webpage or in-store.
Click on these links to find out more about the Local Community Fund.
Macclesfield: You can One Project Macclesfield on Facebook.
Clean plastics that need processing can be given to One Project Macclesfield at The Hive, Unit 15, Turnock Street, Macclesfield, SK11 7AP.
Other Macclesfield causes that Co-op Members can choose to raise money for include Parkroyal Pre-school and Cavalry Church Rainbow Tots.
See Also: Macclesfield Co-op stores to raise money for Bollington Parkinson's group
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