ORGANIZATION NAME: NEW ORGANIZATION, NAME TO BE DETERMINEDCurrent Contact info:Rita Lacey, Managing MemberClose the Loop, (www.closetheloop.com) founded in 2000, supports small, progressive, environmentally responsible manufacturers who offer high quality & unique products made from recycled waste tires, plastic milk jugs & glass bottles. NOTE: This entry is based on a new company TBD, not on CLOSE THE LOOP, LLC due to the 5-10% stake requirement in the “terms and conditions”.

Proposing Organizing a Waste Plastic Workgroup In 2003, The Resource Conservation

Challenge (RCC) Scrap Tire Workgroup was formed to prevent pollution and promote reuse and recycling of waste tires; reduce toxic chemicals in products, and conserve energy and materials. It began with a collaboration of 85 members from federal, state, industry and academia. We can do the same with plastics, watch video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AArpPgcXaOA

How does a Plastic Waste Workgroup solve the problem? Focusing on three activities to

enhance market growth: Educate producers and potential users Identify barriers and solutions Support activities that would overcome

barriers and implement solutions

How does it make money?

New company would be a non-profit, funded through government grants, or private individuals/businesses. Mission is to organize “Waste Plastic Workgroup” and increase markets for new products which will increase jobs (as in plastic asphalt production) and reduce pollution and plastic waste.

R&D for new products using waste plastics, and provide educational materials.

Technology:

Resources required to start group Seek to identify champions and

encourage participation of all states in the workgroup.

Works mainly via: Conference calls E-mails Annual Meetings

Marketing/Sales Strategy:

Through press releases throughout the EPA, major news outlets, post information on pertinent websites and develop fact sheets.

Educate stakeholders and encourage CE (civil engineering) applications of waste plastics.

Identify limitations Address environmental concerns Social media

Competitors

Promote all competitors with viable products: plastic asphalt, plastic lumber, large and small manufacturers who use a minimum of 65% recycled plastic to make their products (building materials, plastic asphalt, appliances, toys, carpeting, etc). Encourage large manufacturers to switch to greater percentage of recycled #1PET, #2HDPE, etc. in making their products.

Who’s on the Team? EPA representative Electrolux  (large manufacturer) Waste Not Technologies, LLC, Patrick Kelley, Managing Member, Saylorsburg, PA  (small manufacturer) Cambria Plastics Recycling, Inc, Himanshu Pandya, Johnstown, PA (small manufacturer) MRF (Material Recovery Facility) Operators:   David Albright, Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County,

PA Ken Prue, San Diego County Recycling Program Manager Waste Management, John Kelly, Grayslake, IL   Recycle America BFI waste management Marine Researchers, Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Environmentalists Huffington Post:  John DeCock Cradle to Cradle:  William McDonough Plastic Pollution Coalition Janet Unruh, Recycle Everything Author, http://www.recycleeverythingbook.org/ PROP ~ Professional Recyclers of PAPA Recycling Markets Center Plastics Brokers Landfill Operator:  Grand Central in Wind Gap, PA Recyclebank, Philadelphia Interface Carpet Architects, Civil Engineers, Contractors, Policy makers, Political Leaders Durable Goods Manufactures - http://www.nurserysupplies.com/ Others:  mobile phone company, car company, furniture makers, sporting goods, toys, electronics

equip mfg,  Non-durable Goods Manufacturers - cleaning supply company, packaging, containers, Bag makers – Hefty, Plastic Pallet makers - Chambers Packaging, Pittsburgh,  Plastic Extruders / Plastics Manufacturers - there are many listed on http://www.thomasnet.com/  (search "plastic parts”)

Recycled Plastic Product Marketing:  Close the Loop, LLC, Rita Lacey, Kunkletown, PA 

Financials:

Revenue 3 years out, estimated at $ 300,000

Revenue 5 years out, estimated at $ 1M

Money could be used for holding annual events to bring team together, and awarded to product manufacturers that pledge to use recycled raw material in their product (verifiably 65% or greater) and empower businesses with advanced solutions.

Sustainability:

This new company would be ecologically sound ~ Success of goal will be measured by increased plastics recycling rates and reduced disposal of waste plastic in landfills.

The Plastics Workshop would be broken up into smaller committees like: 1)Plastic Collection/Sortation and Recycling 2)Manufacturing with Recycled Plastics 3)Designing Products for ease of recycling /

disassembling  4)Civil Engineering Applications of Waste Plastics 5)Human and Marine Impact of Waste Plastics

Current Status:

I have operated a small business for 12 years online at www.closetheloop.com. I would use the prize money to setup a new non-profit business to tackle waste plastic issues and open up communications between all committed parties in the proposed “Plastic Waste Workgroup”. I had approached the EPA in 2010 with this idea, which they liked, but could not fund, due to the fact that Close the Loop, LLC was not a non-profit organization.