Uni-Cycle The Complete Recycling System David Dean [email_address] 020 8542 2434 07962 802 540

The Uni-Cycle process

• Improving reduce, re-use and recycle

• A unique process that saves resources by doubling the amount of plastic recycling

• Deals with bio-degradable products for the first time

• A 5 step plan from birth to completion

• of the waste system

Unique recycling system

• Increases the amount of plastics recycled

• Helps consumers looked for plastic they can recycle

• Increases the amount of recyclable products that waste processors take by improving the waste process

• Creates a very simple marketing campaign to switch consumers on to plastic recycling

• Aims to change the laws making all consumer products recyclable with clearer labelling

Why the Uni-Cycle quest

• Oil based plastic is an increasingly rare and expensive resource

• Only 20% of plastic is recycled in the UK (EU Directive doesnt improve on this figure!)

• Most plastic ends up in Landfill

• Plastic might be used for just 10 minutes but take 100 years or longer to degrade!

• Biodegradable products disrupt the systemuntil now

Step 1 - The Uni-Cycle solution

• Introduce Colour By Numbers

• Plastic recycling numbers in triangles are hard to find

• They are even harder to pick up at the waste disposal end!

• The Uni-Cycle Solution: Colour by numbers . Bright colours backing up the code numbers are easier to see

• Use the colours of the rainbow. 7 primary colours

• 1 PET / PETE = Red

• 2 HDPE = Orange

• 3 PVC = Yellow

• 4 LDPE = Green

• 5 PP = Blue

• 6 PS = Indigo

• 7 Resin = Violet

7 1 2 3 4 5 6

Integrating biodegradable

• Biodegradable might be a good idea

• Being identical to plastics, when they get into the waste system they could be sold as plastics & deteriorate reducing value

• Identifying biodegradable by number and colour separates them from plastic polymers that can be recycled = Biodegradable

0 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0

Step 2 Retailers to be part of the process

• Recycling information can be more prominent:

• Recycling detail can be front of brand & backed by rainbow colours where possible

• Coloured triangle with usual polymer type number

• Next to the products price on the shelf could be a recycling description?

• Focus on major component of packaging

7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Step 3 - Consumer campaign

• - When consumers bin their empties then they should following 4 simple steps:

• Check unique waste collectors Uni-Cycle poster

• Can the plastic be recycled by waste collector?

• If yes, wash the package

• Drop into the correct recycling receptacle

• Using the unique Uni-Cycle poster

• there will be more recyclable materials

• put in the recycling bins

The Uni-Cycle poster

• The Uni-Cycle Circle Poster is unique to every Waste Collector. Consumer get one annually and display in kitchen

• Uses the wheel of a Uni-Cycle split into 8 pies

• 7 colours, 7 bright colours of the rainbow easy! (+ 0 for PLA)

• Posters are produced centrally for lowest cost and least effort

• Authorities order via a simple website

• Type in what can be collected for recycling & artwork will appear on screen then printed

• Consumers will see green for what can be collected and red for what cannot be. Always by number / colour not product

Step 4 - Changing the laws

• Resource efficiency will not be achieved without a change in the law

• The colour by numbers recycling bill is a simple change

7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Step 5 - The waste collection system

• Consumers cant recycle if the waste collector wont recycle it

• Many waste processors dont recycle all that they can

• Why?

• No market for the materials or

• No facilities to recycle

• But the Uni-Cycle team will work with Processors to increase recycling

• They are the weak link because landfill is profitable

Technology drives recycling

• Most recycled products can be processed and sorted using optical reading technology

• The industry has to buy into technology to boost plastic recycling

• Uni-Cycle will audit the waste processor and advise them how to recycle more products using technology as well as updating their processes

• This task is long but necessary as this is one of the major barriers to a better use of resources

Uni-Cycle - Conclusion

• Colours by numbers to be implemented on paper based labels

• Introduce 0 for PLA

• Make recycling symbols prominent

• Create Universal Uni-Cycle poster

• Lowest price as ordered and design online

• Each authority will get own poster

• Work with waste processors to put recycling at the centre of their operations