Shaftesbury announces first visible recycling store on Carnaby Street

Shaftesbury has announced the opening of the first visible recycling unit on Carnaby Street. The space, named Are You Mad, serves as both a plastic sorting facility and a retail store.

The store, located at 56B Carnaby Street, collects plastic waste from local businesses, shoppers and their growing community, which is then sorted, shredded, and turned into new objects, including the build of the shop itself.

Now officially open as a store, the location has been functioning for the past month as a collection unit, diverting 1 tonne of plastic from going to landfills in just 40 days.

Beyond existing as a store, Are You Mad will also be open as a workshop space where customers can bring in their own rubbish, learn about plastic and have the experience to turn their own trash into something creative.

Items can be created as one-off custom products, including coasters, hair combs, incense holders and fruit bowls. Prices start at 50p and range up to £15,000 with over 100 different products available.

Samantha Bain-Mollison, Retail Director at Shaftesbury commented “We’re delighted to announce that Carnaby will be home to the first ever retail destination plastic recycling concept shop, Are You Mad. The conscious creative unit is one of a kind and we can’t wait to see what unique items are produced from all the plastic donated, as well as the future of recycling.”

The unit has been collecting three different types of plastic: (02) HDPE, (05) PP, and (06) PS, which they have found through broken hangers, milk bottles, bottle caps, and food crates. These single use items have now found a second life as creative objects.

Retail brands in Carnaby that have signed up to support Are You Mad include: The North Face, Annie’s Ibiza, Ganni, Swatch, and G-Shock.

Samantha Bain-Mollison, Retail Director at Shaftesbury, commented: “We’re delighted to announce that Carnaby will be home to the first ever retail destination plastic recycling concept shop, Are You Mad. The conscious creative unit is one of a kind and we can’t wait to see what unique items are produced from all the plastic donated, as well as the future of recycling.”

James Suckling, Co-founder at Are You Mad, added: “We hope to change the perception of rubbish by showing the process of turning waste into unique and tangible objects. As a brand we make a difference by creating meaningful employment and circularity through waste and with this project, the amount of plastic sent to landfills.”

Are You Mad are a non-profit organisation who have partnered with GROW, a charity that works with schools and communities delivering bespoke programmes in sustainable food growing and outdoor learning. Are You Mad will be taking charitable donations for this project in store in exchange for retail products.