Plastic Free Whitstable has been uniting our community and local businesses against single-use plastic since 2018 — protecting the coast, the wildlife, and the generations that follow.
About the Scheme
Whitstable officially received its plastic-free status from Surfers Against Sewage in 2018, becoming the first town in Kent to do so — a proud milestone for our community.
Plastic Free Whitstable started in 2018 with concerned local residents determined to tackle single-use plastic in our town. After a pause during the COVID pandemic, the initiative has been revived with fresh energy from local Soroptimist International members and a new wave of volunteers.
We work with local schools, community organisations, and businesses to raise awareness — and with Canterbury City Council on eliminating single-use plastic from council venues and events. We also organise regular beach clean-ups along Whitstable's shores.
We're part of the wider Plastic Free Communities movement, supported by Surfers Against Sewage, which now spans over 638 registered communities across the UK.
Learn about Plastic Free Communities →Businesses in our directory — known as Business Champions — have made a genuine commitment to reducing single-use plastic. This includes:
To become a Business Champion, email us at hello@plasticfreewhitstable.org.uk
Business Champions
Our Business Champions have made a real commitment to reducing single-use plastic. Filter by type or search by name.
📍 Interactive Map
See our Business Champions plotted across Whitstable. Tap any pin for details and directions.
Map not loading? Open directly in Google Maps →
♻️ Local Resources
Reducing plastic is step one — but for the plastic that remains in your life, recycling it properly matters. Not everything goes in your kerbside bin. Below is a guide to local drop-off points for items that need special handling.
This information is maintained by the local community and updated regularly. If you spot something out of date, please let us know.
| What | Where to take it |
|---|---|
| Card & Paper |
|
| Plastic & Bottles |
|
| Soft Plastic e.g. bread bags, crisp packets, cling film, film lids, pasta bags, biscuit/chocolate wrappers — must be clean |
Co-op is recommended as they use a UK recycling site for soft plastic. |
| Tetra Paks, Pringles tubes, cocoa tubs |
Note: Tesco Whitstable no longer collects these. |
| Ink Cartridges Recycle4Charity |
|
| Stamps Retina UK |
|
| Hearing Aids & Glasses Lions Recycle for Sight |
|
| Blister Packs (tablets) Marie Curie |
|
| Blister Packs (tablets) MYGroup recycling |
|
| Batteries |
|
| Clothes & Shoes |
|
| Electricals & Light Bulbs |
|
| Towels & Sheets |
|
| BRITA Water Filter Cartridges |
|
| Textiles (clothing) — must be clean |
|
| Bicycles |
|
| Make-up & Plastic Toys |
|
| Vapes |
|
| Toothpaste Tubes |
|
Information last reviewed April 2026. Sources may change — always check with the venue before making a special trip. If you spot an error or know of a new drop-off point, let us know.
Get In Touch
Whether you're a business ready to join, a listing that needs updating, or someone with a question — use the form or drop us an email directly.
If your business is ready to commit to reducing single-use plastic, select Add Listing and tell us about yourself. There's no cost to join — just a genuine commitment to making a difference for our coast and community.
Reach us directly at hello@plasticfreewhitstable.org.uk