Bloom Energy recently unveiled its new BloomBox – a solid oxide fuel cell that uses no precious metals or corrosive acids and doesn’t use combustion as it turns carbon-based or bio-based fuel into megawatts of electricity. This is certainly a marvelous breakthrough with a promising future. Those who are interested in energy solutions that don’t produce greenhouse gases should certainly sit up and take notice.

As a recycling company, Pacific has as one of its goals simply to make the world a better place. We even use the phrase “passion for the world around us” as one of the five key passions or driving forces we use to guide our actions. So, we try to promote environmentally and economically sound recycling practices. We hope that all companies and people interested in recycling will keep that in mind.

With that in mind, we encourage some rethinking from the general public. Upon deciding you no longer need an item, a good thing to do before even recycling it in the traditional way is to think if it still has any useful life to any other person. In our search to simplify our lives by making things easier, sometimes we give in to the easiest way to dispose of something, rather that taking the time and energy to investigate other methods of disposal. So think before you toss that item into the garbage or recycling bin – does it have any other use first?

Also, as you recycle, look for opportunities to help those who are less fortunate. Pacific always accepts your desire to have the proceeds from your recyclables donated to your favorite charity. Sometimes, we even work with organizations to hold a drive specifically to raise money for that organization, frequently matching all funds collected through the recycling effort.

It’s also good to see other companies involved in recycling reaching out to help others. One in particular is the Institution Recycling Network, a cooperative recycling organization that works with colleges and universities, hospitals, K-12 schools and private companies to improve the performance and economics of recycling. Their recent assistance sent to the people in Haiti is worthy of admiration and attempts to duplicate. Wherever you are, remember that there are so many who have so much less than you do – reading this on a computer is undeniable proof. So find a way to make the world a little better today.

The states of Wyoming and Montana have huge tracts of coal which, under the current fervor of climate change have started to look less appealing both environmentally and economically. Right now, a huge percentage of the population of eastern Wyoming and Montana owe their economic viability to the existence of coal mining. Now, with new technology on the horizon, the future of those communities and the people in them  is beginning to look a little brighter. Turning coal into a clean fuel alternative would have huge implications to that region as well as to the environment around the world. I just say, more “power” to them – play on words intended.

I recently wrote an article about why the price of scrap has risen when the demand for steel continues to languish. I offered my take on it and asked others to offer theirs. Well, it seems World Steel Dynamics has responded (ok, so they were probably just responding to a multitude of people asking the same question so shoot me) by asserting most of what I stated and adding additional insight.  We may have to take a closer look at how we go after scrap.

Toyota was the first major car company to offer a hybrid car, the Prius and have definitely dominated that category ever since. Marketing gurus have said for some time that it is better to be first in a market than to be best. The Prius is a great modern example of that principle.

Now, the race for the first to have a plug-in car has intensified as Toyota steps up their efforts to get a plug-in into consumers’ hands. However, one wonders if there will really be a winner in terms of “first” with so many charging into this segment.

The Chevy Volt appears to still be on track to be the first – will they gain enough traction before another enters the market to truly take advantage of being first? In this case, I’m skeptical about their chances because of Toyota’s current dominance with Prius and their ramped up efforts to enter the market sooner than previously announced.

The one advantage GM will have is if their Volt is much more affordable to the masses since it appears Toyota’s version will be over-priced (around $33,770) for many US consumers. Let’s hope that the competitive nature of this particular race will force pricing to fit the pocketbooks of a much broader demographic.