MORE ON MY VIEWS ON RECYCLING

Following my last post on recycling, I got two comments back (from my usual readers- all of them!) I have edited them, and here they are for reference:-

Divemaster GranDad said...

That's the sad part of recycling. It's seen as expensive and thus not worth the time and effort. I think that if the right products are manufactured in the first place, recycling will be at a minimal straight away, but for any residual waste, that can be recycled easily. Unfortunately, humans are wasteful creatures that want maximum return on as little investment as possible, and damn the environment in the process. 

Fishman said...

But it also depends on the availability of the waste. If it is used in road construction for example, how will you get the it to the construction site? I know they had this idea to recycle used tyres to add to bitumen for road laying. But the transport cost did not make it viable.

So, the reality is that as these resources become more scarce, and as the world recognizes that the continued poisoning of the environment cannot continue, the motivation for the recycling of product will grow.
In the example of tyres, from Fishman, the tyre manufacturers will be tasked to ensure that every tyre that is replaced is returned to them / a central collection point. The manufacturers could, in turn, elect a 3rd party at a central point and make them responsible for this. This would ensure greater numbers of old tyres coming to a single repository  thereby making the next steps to recycling more cheaper, and viable. The permit to conduct business in country could be linked to the proof of recycling! I know it may impact on the cost of the tyre, but at least it will happen.

This might sound a bit out there,but consider the following:-
Olive oil manufacturers will soon have to be able to prove that they have disposed of the waste from their production in a controlled, and environmentally friendly manner. If not, they will be fined, and their production permit revoked! Yup, they have for years just dug the stuff back into the ground, thinking it would rot away, and become "compost". Well, guess what - it does not. In fact, the ground becomes so saturated with oil, that nothing will grow there again for a very, very long time!
Wine producers will be faced with the same problem with the waste product after they have pressed their wine. The waste, which used to be dug into the ground, has now been proven to raise acidity levels to beyond acceptable, and it is having a negative effect on the quality of the soil!
And so with most other products / manufacturers. Internationally, motor car manufacturers are being pressed to design their vehicles so that most of it can be recycled once it reaches end of life.

I know that for now it's going to be difficult to motivate, so, the powers that be will legislate. And maybe, in 3rd world countries they may be a bit relaxed about these issues, and some would say it would be difficult to police, but there are ways and means. Soon enough, it becomes the norm, as creating all this waste has become the norm.

Just my thoughts and opinion.

Salagatle!

EXCITING TIMES

A few years ago (2011) the company I now work for did some test work on a "waste " product, to see if it could be recycled.
Internationally this waste is either dumped in hazardous waste fill site, or used in the road building industry. In some countries that use some of it as an additive to the cement making industry. A couple of companies have come up with recycling plant / machines, but are very expensive, and so does not warrant the capital outlay (ROI sucks).

The test work done in our labs proved that with our technology (actually a couple of our various products are involved) can successfully recycle this product, with a 10 - 20% wastage.

Consider the following:-
Currently, the product is used once (maybe 2 or 3 times), then dumped. 100% replacement costs, plus disposal charges (which could be as much as the replacement costs per ton).

Now, with our plant - replacement costs is 10-20%, and disposal charges are 10-20% of original cost!

I just finished the calculations on a plant to process 60 Tons per day, and the ROI on this is 15 months! Thereafter, the running costs are minimal, maintenance minimal, and profits go through the roof.
Have spoken to 3 prospective clients, and had the same response form all 3 - WE WANT ONE!

So, will go to each one, get a sample of their product (waste) recycle it for them, have the university do tests on the product, and present same to the clients.
This could be even bigger than my shit machines - and because I picked up and ran with the project, its now in my portfolio!

Things are really looking up!!!

Salagatle!

Waste - recycling - my opinion

Hi all - anyone still bother to read this? I know I have been bad at posting, but with the new job, less stress, and not much to bitch about, I didn't really have much to say.
I now have now found vigor for this blog, and you will find that my posts will take up a new look - one with positive messages, thoughts and ideas. That is, until I find something to bitch about.

So what has brought me here today? I passed a comment to a fellow employee today. We were discussing a comment I made in a presentation / document I am compiling for a new client set, in which I make a statement which is, as yet, unproven. However, I am also confident it cannot be refuted - hey, what can I say - that's me!

Basically, I am of the opinion that, apart from spent nuclear waste, there is NOTHING on this earth today, which is considered waste, which cannot be RECYCLED!

Seriously. I have done a mountain of research and read reams of papers, etc.on various subjects, relating to the work I now do, and every time I come across another new idea, invention, thought, which shows how / why something should be recycled.
In fact, I would go so far as to state that if we, as the intelligent species on this planet, had to institute rigorous recycling methods across all sectors / products, we could do away completely with dump sites!
We could probably extend the supportable life span of the earth by hundreds of years.

I would appreciate any comments, thoughts on this subject. Also, if you think of something you don't believe can be recycled, post it here - I will tell you how / why it can be!
That's it for now

Salagatle!

Bad bad boy

I have been such a bad boy. No posts for more than a month - ah well, that's how it goes I suppose.... Now you know how I feel about going to check your posts, and finding nothing, day, after day, after day.....

So whats my excuse? I don't really have one, other than I have been seriously busy at my new job, having more fun than I thought was even possible!

I joined the new company at the General Manager fora new subsidiary - however, I am also the salesman, consultant, specialist, project manager, and anything else I need to be for now.

I have absolutely no regrets for leaving IBM. Nothing, nada, niente. In fact, I popped ion there the other day to see some of the guys  and whilst there quickly felt the ominous depressive feelings coming back. That's how bad it was - no way I would have lasted another month.
More to follow - eventually.
Salagatle!

Comments section

Due to the escalating bombardment of useless comments from "Anonypoes"!! I have changed the access to only those who have a proper email address.

Salagatle!

Phosa: BEE not working

I found this on News 24, and thought it was quite interesting:- (Comments will follow below)

Johannesburg - Black economic empowerment (BEE) is not helping to reduce poverty and inequality, ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa said on Thursday.

"Marikana taught us that... our [BEE] model is dysfunctional, and that we need to be creative when old order models of negotiation are discarded by the disenfranchised," Phosa said in a speech prepared for delivery in Johannesburg.

"If the miners at Marikana, and elsewhere, had a meaningful stake in the assets that they create, my view is that we would have had different and more positive outcomes."

He was referring to the shooting dead of 34 striking Lonmin platinum mine workers by the police in Marikana on August 16.

BEE had not made any meaningful contribution towards alleviating poverty and unemployment.

"What it did do is create an upper class of wealthy black investors who initially funded their wealth with debt through the acquisition of shareholding in successful white or international businesses."

Successful economic transformation needed black entrepreneurs who were not the beneficiaries of wealth created by others.

"The simple fact is, whether we are white or black, there is a dire need for broader participation in the wealth of this country in a way different from the current model," he said.

Wealth was never given away or successfully redistributed through force. The country's circumstances however showed that the wealth and ownership gap needed to be closed.

"If we hesitate in doing so, we will be the architects of our own demise."

He said South Africa's current policy drift and the public's opinion on these matters were not helping.

The time that elapsed between the crisis, the policy solution and its implementation did not contribute to social stability.

So,after 18 years of so called democratic government, this poes now realises that BEE has not worked - it has not added any value to the masses it was supposed to be benefiting. Only the top brass in the ANC, and them who are "connected"to decision makers and procurement officers have made any money. In fact, some of them made so much money they are now in the top 100 richest in the world, and probably make up 90% of the top richest in Africa. But the guy who sits at the end of the road every day looking for piece work has been doing that forever, and will never benefit from any BEE regulations.

Even more bewildering is that he felt he needed to make this statement -does he really think then around him are not aware of the fact that BEE has not worked?

Salagatle! 

Some pics from the Hippo rally in Richards Bay

LuckyL's bike parked on the pier

View of the rally site down the left of this street- was very empty

Some of the tents and bikers

Waiting for the mass ride to start - approx. 84 riders

One bike I will trade my XJR1200 for - a Lawson replica 1200 muscle bike

Now, in my eyes,this is not a bike... aircon, heaters, radio / cd player, built in garmin, boot.....

 Salagatle!

Rhino Rally -South Africa

So, continuing on my previous post about the road trip myself and LuckyL undertook:-
We arrived in Harrismith around lunchtime, Friday 28th Sept. Paid our entrance fee, made our way down to the Rally Office, got our badges, and then drove around the very extensive camp site, looking for the ideal place to set up camp.



Some places were too far from the "events" center, some too near, some too close to the water (dams and stream), but eventually we found a spot which we liked. It happened to be right next door to a section cordoned off for sole use by the Roadhogs, a bike club I used to ride for many, many years ago.

WE DECIDED TO PITCH THE TENT UNDER A SMALL TREE - FOR SHADE

So, we set up camp. Put up the tent and gazebo, unloaded the bikes, and took a ride around. Not long, and we saw the weather start to come up, so we went back to the car, got in, and decided to have a nap while the rain fell. Rain, hail, and incredible wind!
With the wind blowing later, we moved the trailer next to the tent, and tied the gazebo down onto it with ropes. However, with the storm that came over, the gazebo "lost" two of its legs, so we had to make a different plan.

This was plan B. Relocate the tent on top of the trailer, and the gazebo, with 2 long legs, 2 broken legs over the trailer, ans tie the whole thing down onto thew trailer.

 This was now, in effect, a caravan! We put our bags with clothing into the tent, and slept in the back of the car - double bed mattress and all! No way I was going to risk being blown away, rained on in another freak storm. This configuration held up well, and drew many comments from passing bikers!

Fallen tree.....

The storm that came up suddenly was so bad that it blew a tree down, crushing 2 tents (luckily uninhabited at the time), and and crushed some poor sods motorbike!!!

Smashed bike.....

As soon as it was over, we went back down to the events area. Pretty soon the wind came up again. At some point it blew away a few gazebos. Then it destroyed the tent of one of the stalls. I quickly ripped the back panels off of the next rent, as this was also going to take a flight, and let the wind blow through it. LuckyL and I spent some time helping the guys salvage what they could, and then left them to rebuild their stand best they could.

The remains of the structure of some poor sods gazebo - or 2!

We made our way around, checking out the damage to the various stalls, and some of the private tents. Eventually we ended up at the bar counter, inside a massive marquis. Just outside,some guys were trying to better secure the tent poles / ropes, with some of the 1m and 2 m long rope pegs having pulled out of the ground!
I bought a sheet of tickets, so that we could get some drinks. The wind was, by now, challenging the massive ropes and long tent poles. I went inside, much to LuckyL's dismay, to get some drinks. I bought a sheet of tickets (they can't trust their barmen with cash) and at that point the first main tent pole lifted off the ground, and gave way! He went outside - calling me. I demanded a round of drinks. The barman and lady were shocked and stunned - well, was I really going to spend who knows how much time without a drink if this tent collapsed? The second pole lifted off the ground. LuckyL came running back in :
"Dad, lets get out of here man, before it comes down on you head!" Coming, I said, picking up our drinks and following him out. Outside I realized this tent was in trouble. We stood to one side while the wind lashed at it - people were running into the tent to get the bikes out that someone had parked inside - cause they can!
 LuckyL did the honorable thing - opened a beer and filmed the tent collapsing! I will get the video from him and post it here.

The collapsed marquis tent - that's the end with the bar - the other end housed the stage and music / sound equipment. Check the water around it - 4 - 6 inches deep!!!

And then just as suddenly, the wind died down, and the rain fell softly. Simon Fourie - he of Bike SA owner and organiser of this rally walked past. I stopped him and commented "Think you have a problem", to which he responded - Already sorted - the guys are on their way from Durban as we speak! Now that's impressive organising! I offered my assistance if he needed it for anything - he replied - can you put up this tent? Smiled, and went on his way!

The next morning......

That night at about 8.30 pm, a truck arrived out of which climbed about 10 - 15 guys. They couldn't believe what they saw. By 3 am the next morning, the tent had been rebuilt, with new rope pegs, and all clean and sorted. They left off the side sheets, and that would have been the answer the day before, to remove them, and allow the wind to blow through. Anyway, they got it fixed.

Stalls - or rather what was stalls.

Simon Fourie -we got him to wheelie that scooter

There were some crazy stunt riders doing some shows, and they came through the camp sites,and decided out braai was a good obstacle...

Anyway,  Saturday was a nice clear day.
More to follow.

Salagatle!

Assault GBH

So, finally this issue has gone away.
For them who don't know the detail, scroll down and you will find the whole story. The summary is as follows:-
I went shopping for a TV and some associated stuff.. The salesman got abusive, threatened my son with "I will fuck you up"! When I confronted him, he made the same threat to me. After a bit of a to and fro, I landed a solid klap on his face.
He laid a charge of assault - Grievous Bodily Harm against me after getting some concocted doctors note re his injuries. Said I hit him with an unknown object! Yea right - my right hand is now a weapon of mass destruction!!!!

When the cops eventually came round to look for me, I wasn't home. Went down to the cop shop to see what they wanted and got myself arrested. Spent 13 hours in various cells, until GMan manged to pay some one ZAR3500 to get me bail, which cost another ZAR1000.
Appeared in court 2 days later.
Then got an attorney involved. Another court appearance cause the dumb arse public prosecutor didn't let us have the docket. Then a visit to the advocate for advice. The attorney had a few rounds with the public prosecutor, and showed him a copy of the CCTV recording from the incident. They agreed that there was no evidence of me ever actually hitting the guy, but there was visible evidence of the security guys shoving me around, as well as him, and he could have got injured then. Not sure what transpired between the video viewing and the court date, between the PP and the plaintiff, but suffice to say, it's now closed. Today I appeared in the court with my attorney, and the public prosecutor withdrew the charges.
End of saga. But not the end of this story I think.

Salagatle!