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.

I wrote an article earlier about convenience being an important factor to determine a recycling program’s effectiveness. I’d also like to add getting some sort of financial benefit. Successful recycling operations will provide both. And in case you think that there are a lot of people willing to “do the right thing” by recycling no matter what, here is another article that says otherwise. The scary thing with this one is the finding that people under 40 are less likely to recycle old cell phones unless there is an incentive – I thought it would be the other way around.

While auto recyclers have always played a vital part in recycling, they have, along with scrap yards been seen as junky places most people avoid if they can. So, to see an auto recycler like Pull-A-Part receive the first Conserve Georgia Recycling Award is quite gratifying. Not only that, but they also received a sustainability award in 2009. So, congratulations to Pull-A-Part!

When it comes to recycling metals, it is a good idea to have some basic knowledge of how recyclers separate metals. That way, you can get the most for your scrap. This article is a pretty good primer on basic metal sorting. Apparently, there will be additional information posted so stay tuned.

You would think that with plants to handle plastic recycling located right in North Carolina, the state would have a very high plastic bottle recycling rate. However, this article states that less than 20% of the plastic bottles are recycled. I’m not dissing on North Carolina’s citizens at all, it’s simply a statement that getting people to recycle plastic is difficult, even when plants are located so close.

Some questions that came to my mind include what is the state doing to ensure that bottles don’t end up in the landfill? Does all trash in North Carolina go through a transfer station with sorters to keep the bottles out? Will more people just dump them illegally? Is the state providing some sort of bottle collection program to make it easy on consumers to recycle them?

The law certainly has merits and I hope it is successful at increasing the recycling rate. I also hope it doesn’t lead to illegal dumping or other such nonsense.