China: What You May Not Know About It Will Surprise You

Beijing on a clear day.

We have all seen the pictures of the urban smog in many cities in China. In fact, the country is home to 20 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities. Key among the factors involved is that coal produces 70% of China’s energy. The country burns nearly half of the world’s supply.

And it’s not just the air that is of concern. It has been estimated that 90% of China’s urban groundwater is contaminated. Over one third of the fish species native to the Yellow River are now extinct and millions of people in rural areas rely on unsafe water supplies.

Electronics…The Newest Frontier For Recycling

As we have intensified our efforts to collect end-of-life electronics, we have marveled at the vast array of equipment that has been packed away in basements, warehouses and storage facilities all over the GTA. Word processors, typewriters, black and white televisions, stereo and high fidelity equipment, computers, beepers, telecommunications equipment, printers and other peripherals, clunky portable phones that weren’t very smart and the list goes on.

The amazing thing about all this ‘stuff’ is that when they were introduced to the world they were all applauded and widely accepted as true cutting edge technologies.

End-of-life electronics sorting and dismantling at our Oakville warehouse.

The Good Old Penny..RIP Come This Fall

As anticipated in a post we did about a year ago, the federal government announced the demise of the penny in its March 2012 budget. In about six months from now, the Royal Canadian Mint will stop distributing the coin and they will be removed from circulation over time. There is no end date to the process so we can continue to use them and they will retain their value as long as they are around.

We are not alone in this exercise. There are quite a number of countries who have already stopped using their low value coins.

If You Think Of The Recycling Industry As Innovation Challenged…Please Think Again.

While there have been many new technologies introduced into the recycling industry over the past few decades, in this blog we want to highlight two recent exciting developments. One is in Canada and the other is in the U.S.

You can be forgiven if the patented process called reverse polymerization does not happen to be in your lexicon . We hadn’t heard of it either until someone brought it to our attention in connection with the various technologies being applied to the problem of recycling the 12 million plus end of life vehicle tires that are generated in Ontario each year.

Scales…One of Our Weighter Blog Posts, If You’ll Pardon The Pun

Easily the busiest pieces of equipment at any scrap metal recycling operation are the weigh scales. They provide the defining measurement for all material trading, both buying and selling.

There’s Nothing New About Scales.

The Egyptians were using scales more than 7000 years ago. Smart Egyptians.

Weigh scales date back to early Egyptian civilization. The earliest scales were found in an Egyptian grave and are at least 7000 years old. Modified and improved by many cultures over time they increasingly gained relevance with the introduction of the various media of exchange with fixed values. People needed to know the weight of a product in order to convert its value into currency.

The Fine Art of Zigging When The World Is Zagging.

What is it about October that seems to bring out the worst in the financial landscape?

The volatility in the markets has continued in force this week. At the time we are writing this blog, the  price of metals has taken a significant beating, including copper which has fallen about 25% over the last three weeks alone. Additionally, the Canadian dollar has been driven down about 10% against the U.S. currency since its peak in July and the Toronto Stock Exchange, with its heavy exposure to commodities, has dropped about 20% as the “bears” have come roaring back. Forecasters around the globe are busy re-forecasting economic growth and other important indicators.

Product Stewardship – Completing The Circle of Responsibility

Increasingly common in our green vocabulary are phrases like Product Stewardship, Extended Producer Responsibility and Original Equipment Manufacturer. These are all phrases used to promote the idea that responsibility for a product must ultimately extend to everyone involved in the life cycle of that product.

Undisturbed, Mother Nature, has no difficulty with these recycling concepts. Plants are grown in the soil and returned to the soil, for example, and new vegetation is created. It is seamless and unless interfered with, the process has no resistance.

Lead Acid Batteries – One Of Our Biggest Recycling Success Stories

One of the best kept secrets with respect to all of the various recycling programs in effect is the absolute success of lead acid battery recycling. More than 97% of all battery lead is recycled making lead acid batteries the most highly recycled consumer product.

19^th Century Technology – 21^st Century Utility

The lead acid battery has been around for a while. It was discovered in 1859 by a French physicist and is the oldest type of rechargeable battery. With a high power to weight ratio and a cost that is economical, lead acid batteries have provided a practical and efficient power solution for many different applications.

The Solar Roadways Project. The Biggest Green Idea Yet.

One of the more interesting aspects of being part of the green revolution is that you are exposed to new ideas and recycling technologies on a constant basis. Recently we came across something which really caught our attention.

The Solar Roadways Project

Scott Brusaw of Sagle Idaho is an electrical engineer whose company, Solar Roadways, wants to build solar panels that will replace the asphalt that constitutes most roadways, driveways, parking lots and even the paved areas we play on in playgrounds.

On only four hours sunlight per day, Mr. Brusaw estimates that 428 homes could go off the grid for every mile of four lane solar roadway.

Scales…One Of Our Weighter Topics (Pardon The Pun)

This is how a lot of materials were weighed, back in the day before, well, just about everything electrical.

One of the busiest pieces of equipment at the scrap yard are its scales. They provide the defining measurement for all material trading, both buying and selling.

There’s Nothing New About Scales

Scales date back to early Egyptian civilization. The earliest scales were found in an Egyptian grave and are at least 7000 years old. Modified and improved by many cultures over time they increasingly gained relevance with the introduction of mediums of exchange with fixed values. People needed to know the weight of a product in order to convert its value into currency.