California recycle program, also known as CalRecycle, is being driven by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. It is the Department’s effort in California's 40-year pursuit to handle its waste through waste reduction and recycling. It helped to recycle more than 300 billion glass, aluminum, tires, and plastic beverage cans since 1987.The Department administers the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act focusing on Beverage containers which operate under the California Redemption Value (CRV). The pay to recycle programs work on CRV cash incentive being offered to customers.
Under the pay to recycle program, the Consumers pay a small fee known as California Redemption Value (CRV) when they buy products from the store. Milk and wine packaging are not included in the CRV program. The refund value for each type of qualified beverage bottle or can is 5 cents if it's under 24 ounces and 10 cents if it is higher than that. The buyers receive CRV refunds when they return these cans or bottles at the recycling center. In general, only the beverages' products that are glass, bi-metal, aluminum, or plastic packaging qualify for CRV. The program is sponsored through beverage distributors and is based on redemption payments for each beverage container being sold in the Californian state. Redemption payment returns are used through the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund (Fund). All the expenses are made from this Fund to customers in the shape of California Refund Value (CRV) when they go back to return empty beverage containers to licensed recycling centers. Presently, in the state, there are 1,209 recycling centers.
THE PROBLEM
The state of California showed a lot of interest in catering to the environment and tried to boost its recycling rates, especially for beverage containers. These programs did help to increase recycling for almost a decade, but with the continued closure of recycling units have resulted in the fallout to California’s recycling program. These recycling units are suffering from the economic effects of pinching supermarket chains. It has also resulted in the fall of the beverage container recycling rates. The values of glass, plastic, and aluminum have reduced, triggering many recycling centers to shut down, which has resulted in a lot of pressure on the remaining centers, which is striving hard to meet the demand of little funds. The grocery stores under the state requirement need to have a recycling center within half a mile or would need to pay a daily fine. The closing of 300 recycling centers has resulted in the closing of supermarkets since last year.
As a result of fewer locations to cash in containers, people abandon the idea of traveling farther to recycling centers, in order to to save fuel, or long waiting lines. The closing of these recycling centers has added 3.5 million additional containers, which has increased littering or landfill waste. The program, which started as a profiting initiative, has resulted in a lot of unperceptive problems.
The state needs to reassess the plan and look for other recycling options as the program suffers from financial and environmental problems, which will become more grave with time.
THE SOLUTION
Micropayments can be used to incentivize recycling in areas that don’t have robust programs like the state of California. Outside of the state of California individuals are incentivized to recycle certain items based on the current market value of the raw material they are composed of. Unfortunately these prices yield fractions of the value provided by CRV making the hoard , build, dump approach lucrative to few individuals. Even when recycling large amounts this only yields a few dollars, making recycling less lucrative to individuals. Micropayments can be paid on a per unit basis to incentivize individuals to recycle single units than hoarding, building bulk, and dumping. This would likely increase the adoption of recycling throughout a community, while reallocating the realized value in a decentralized manner.
Ripple is rapidly gaining popularity thanks to a robust strategy that involves focusing on developments that provide attractive solutions for the corporate sector. For example, Ripple has a remittance solution called On Demand Liquidity, which is essentially a global payments network. Interestingly, Ripple chose to provide this network as a solution that can be used by other businesses, and this ties into its strategy for a good reason.
Using a different approach to conquer the markets slowly
Ripple’s decision to take this unique approach is partly influenced by Bitcoin's failure to achieve its primary goal of global adoption and becoming a globally accepted currency. This approach failed for numerous reasons, among them being the direct attempt to overthrow the fiat-based system, which is deeply rooted in society. Some of the flaws of this system include centralization, as well as the slow mature of its transactions.
Unfortunately, Bitcoin ended up being highly volatile due to its highly speculative nature. It also received massive opposition from traditional fiat-based organizations, especially banking organizations, because they felt that Bitcoin threatened their operations. These mistakes were enough to provide significant lessons for Ripple so that it came up with a different approach that would allow it to achieve success and achieve adoption with XRP, where other cryptocurrencies failed.
*Image source-Cryptonewsz.com
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Ripple's approach to the adoption issue is different because it focuses on developing solutions that will be rooted in fiat-based systems to deliver high levels of efficiency. Since its solutions are based on XRP, this means the cryptocurrency is used as a utility token rather than as a digital currency. It helps that XRP's price is relatively stable compared to the likes of Bitcoin, and this means it can still be used directly for commerce purposes.However, it is still not there yet as the numbers are concerned, but the strategy is gradually getting there.
Ripple expects to reap big through the network effect
The thing about Ripple’s current approach is that it is significantly influenced by the network effect, which means that it still has a long way to go before it can achieve critical mass in adoption. Once critical mass is reached, then increased adoption, Ripple’s services can run on their own without requiring partnerships with other firms. You are probably wondering about the network effect. It refers to a situation or condition where the goods or services offered on a particular platform get better as the number of customers or participants increases.
The internet is an ideal example of the network effect in play. It was initially not as effective or developed in its early stages when it only had a few users. However, there is a drastic improvement in the current state of the internet now that it has billions of users compared to the early days. Similarly, e-commerce websites such as Amazon only get better as more people jump on board. It is because more customers mean more revenue, which can then fund more development to provide better experiences.
Comparison between the internet, Ripple, and XRP
When the internet was invented, things were very mechanical, and data handling was mainly done through hard-copy. In other words, data was written down in books and paper and then stored. However, these processes lacked efficiency, and they were time-consuming. For example, one would have to travel to access specific data that they needed if it was not available at hand. However, the dawn of the internet age brought about drastic changes and efficiency that had never been seen before.
The influence of the internet is similar to the inefficient digital systems that we currently have today. Ripple and XRP have introduced solutions that could and will possibly revolutionize financial systems across the globe. Ripple and XRP will allow the financial systems to facilitate cross-border transactions within minutes and perhaps seconds as opposed to the traditional methods which complete cross-border remittance in a matter of days.
Keep in mind that things were also slow in the early days of the internet. Only a few firms were bold enough to start using the internet to improve their services, but as soon as word started getting out about the efficiencies that were there to be had, then everyone started jumping on board. Similarly, Ripple and XRP have started their journey at a gradual pace, but one that has been increasing as more major firms jump on board.
Coil subscriber when will critical mass occur?.........
*It’s the stranger in you that keeps luring me in
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*Beneath telltale façades lies the root of your sin
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*What’s borne in blood has spoiled to rot
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*For mine own blood is all I’ve got
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*If there’s no trust in you I’m lost to all others
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*As a blanket to fire it chokes and it smothers
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*I cut my insides out to make my outsides warm
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*I am the calm in the eye of the storm
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*For what’s right won wrong but took too long you’re sinking ever deep
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*That glaring stare no lives to spare this everlasting sleep
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All forms of art are subject to interpretation. Simple words interpreted a thousand different ways by a thousand different scholars but what is was the authors true intent?
Have you seen the ground it looks awfully inviting
To die here tonight would be rather delighting
Take all I’ve lived for and smother it with ground
Cut off my existence void my light and sound
Gravekeeper avalanching black soot kiss
Life's own hope dying reaching closer to bliss
Darkness overcomes my essence of light
Too frail to care too weak to fight
Heart in dissension temperature in a fall
Blurring consciousnessness giving up it all
Flesh rotting decays down to earthen tone
Mortal's lost flesh leaving nothing but the bone
So put me to rest I’ve been tired for so long
If it’s the right thing to live I want to be wrong
What once were held are promises are nothing more than words
For here I stake my claim leave nothing for the birds
All forms of art are subject to interpretation. Simple words interpreted a thousand different ways by a thousand different scholars but what is was the authors true intent?
MoneyGram and Ripple Labs announced their partnership in July 2019. They revealed the fund transfer company would leverage Ripple’s blockchain-based solution called xRapid to improve cross-border remittance. This development was a great step forward for MoneyGram because it would deliver more efficiency. Or was it?
Some analysts believe that the deal may only benefit MoneyGram for a short while and that things will be different in the long-run. We need to look deeper into things to understand why MoneyGram the partnership does not guarantee its future in the remittance industry. Remittance companies have been due for an upgrade for years now because their services are slow and expensive in this day and age.
Switching to blockchain-based operations
XRP is smack at the center of the operations that allow firms such as MoneyGram to take advantage of high-efficiency levels in their activities. XRP is a digital currency that is easily transferred through blockchain. Many people have been using cryptocurrencies speculatively, but Ripple Foundations has been marketing XRP as a utility token that they use to power their solutions that target financial services. Ripple's solutions have been rapidly gaining popularity and traction, and this strategy has been fantastic at putting XRP out there as a successful cryptocurrency.
Why MoneyGram might still not be out of the woods yet
The xRapid deal that MoneyGram struck with Ripple gave the remittance firm a new lease on life, and possibly a stable future. However, that might not be the case because XRP’s rapidly growing popularity might render its services obsolete. XRP's rapid growth in terms of popularity has been fast-paced, and this means that it could become so popular in the future that it will achieve mass adoption. If this happens, then, people will start using XRP directly as a currency.
Since XRP can quickly and cheaply betransacted thanks to blockchain technology, then there will be no need to subscribe to remittance services form the likes of MoneyGram. It looks like the inevitable future outcome for remittance firms. However, this outcome depends on whether Ripple’s strategy for XRP will work.
What is the XRP strategy that Ripple is using?
Image source-CoinNewsSpan
Ripple Labs has been quite smart with its approach towards the market as noted earlier because it uses XRP as a utilitytoken for its fintech solutions, rather than a cryptocurrency. This approach seems to be working better than that of Bitcoin (BTC), which was initially introduced to replace fiat currency. Bitcoin was marketed as a superior alternative because it was decentralized rather than fiat, which is primarily controlled by centralized organizations (governments through central banks).
Unfortunately, Bitcoin’s attempts to pull the rug from under the traditional fiat-based system failed miserably. Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies ended up becoming the victims of speculation, thus characterized mainly by highly volatile price movement. It rendered them unattractive and impractical as currencies that can be used for day-to-day commerce purposes.
Meanwhile, Ripple was busy watching and identifying where Bitcoin went wrong and so they have been doing things differently. Instead of attempting to dethrone fiat, XRP complements the fiat system and is used to improve fiat-based operations drastically. Its price is also relatively stable, thus making it an attractive solution. Ripple hopes that XRP will eventually gain enough traction to enable its independent use to pay for goods and services. However, the current use as a utility token is still a massive win for the cryptocurrency community and a demonstration of what is possible in the crypto world.
Is XRP improving MoneyGram’s performance?
Image source- XRP vi.be
At this point, an XRP takeover is still in the speculation phase, which means that there are no guarantees that things will go down as speculated. Also, MoneyGram is currently enjoying the benefits of its partnership with Ripple, and it hopes to continue to enjoy those benefits in its money transfer business well into the future.
Just a few weeks ago, Cory Johnson, the former Chief Market Strategist at Ripple, stated that XRP would significantly contribute to MoneyGram’s bottom line. Earlier in November, the remittance firm announced its Q3 earnings report, which was highly anticipated because it would be the company's first quarterly report since its partnership with Ripple. It would, therefore, show whether the deal between the two firms was accretive to MoneyGram's performance.
Unfortunately, MoneyGram is still not out of the woods yet financially, as evident by the $7.7 million Q3 net loss that is reported. However, analysts are still optimistic about the global payment firm's ability to regain profitability through XRP, thanks to the latter's disruptive technology. Ripple and XRP's impact on MoneyGram's performance will likely become more apparent over time, possibly in the coming year, especially now that people are already aware of the partnership between the two.
Coil Subscribers Find Out What the MoneyGram of the Future will Look Like?......
Bitcoin’s Dark History And Why XRP Might Win The Global Adoption Race
Bitcoin and XRP are among the major cryptocurrencies in the world, but the two are somewhat different, and it is these differences that make each special. Bitcoin was expected to become a global cryptocurrency, but it looks like XRP might be the one to win that title.
To understand why Bitcoin has not achieved global adoption, we must first look at its history, which is marked with a rather dark start.
**The dark path that Bitcoin took when it was launched
**When Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin and blockchain technology, he hoped that it would solve some of the shortcomings of the traditional fiat currency-based system. Some of the characteristics that Bitcoin offered that were unique include decentralization, which means that it would not be controlled by a centralized organization such as the Central Banks. This idea of a decentralized digital currency was a major selling point for Bitcoin and blockchain technology.
Unfortunately, the launch of blockchain and its decentralized nature made it easier for some evils to thrive. The criminal underworld realized just how much easier their operations would be through Bitcoin and so they quickly jumped on board and adopted the cryptocurrency for their transaction through the dark web.
The lack of centralized regulatory oversight in Bitcoin transactions meant free real estate for illegal transactions over the internet. This means that buying and selling illegal drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, and others became significantly easier. Bitcoin also made it easier to launder money. In short, the criminal underworld became the biggest beneficiaries of the cryptocurrency age. For these reasons, Bitcoin received a lot of negative criticisms from major players in the traditional financial industry.
The negative criticism plus its highly volatile price movements discouraged many retail outlets from embracing Bitcoin payments. A few industries, such as the gaming sector and a few retail outlets jumped on board, but the bulk of the transactions still came from the criminal underworld.
Why Bitcoin failed to achieve mass adoption
Bitcoin's failure to achieve mass adoption as currency goes beyond the lack of support from the traditional financial companies and retail outlets. It mainly has to do with price volatility. Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies have become unattractive as currencies because they cannot be used to exchange value. This is because their prices fluctuate too much that crypto payments lose value within minutes after they completed. This means that businesses could end up losing money before they convert the crypto payments received into fiat currently, and that means losses.
The volatility of the cryptocurrency market is largely attributed to the use of cryptocurrencies as speculative tools. Many people simply buy cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin in the hope that they can sell them later at a higher price. This buying and selling heavily influences the price movements. This lack of relative stability makes Bitcoin less appealing as a currency, and that is why it has never achieved global adoption.
Despite hitting a brick wall in its pursuit of global adoption, Bitcoin is a success in its own regard. It paved the way to a whole new segment called the crypto economy, and it also ushered in Blockchain technology, which is the decentralized ledger technology on which cryptocurrencies operate.
Coil subscribers find out where XRP comes into play below........
*Father are you listening and if it be thyne name
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*If so, why to no avail when I speaketh it in vain
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*Father I am calling you each time I bow in prayer
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*Seeking answers to unknown truths but you are never there
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*They say have faith O’ Father yet my ignorance is blind
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*Heartfelt truths being falsified by mind
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*Father please assist me for I am feeling not too well
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*For my disbelief I will be sentenced to Hell
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*My fate is set in stone forgive me as I grieve
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*For all I have is nothing and that’s what I believe
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All forms of art are subject to interpretation. Simple words interpreted a thousand different ways by a thousand different scholars but what is was the authors true intent?
Expectations of an economic crash lave been escalating lately, and this is no surprise considering the economic tensions, but even more interesting is that it coincides with the expectations that XRP will rise.
The Ripple team has been gradually but surefootedly building up their network and also attracting a lot of business, thus solidifying XRP’s place in the cryptocurrency industry. You are probably wondering why XRP is expected to gain in value as the market clashes, but first, a bit of a look at why there are such high expectations of another economic
A decade has already passed since the last time an economic crisis happened and some economic indicators have already shown characteristics that are usually spotted right before an economic crash. For example, an inverted yield curve is one of the signs that market experts look for because it has previously happened just before every economic crash since 1975.
Interestingly, the yield curve inverted a few weeks ago, thus spreading concerns about the rising likelihood of an economic recession taking place soon. These concerns were further fueled by other factors such as the China-U.S trade war, the Brexit situation in Europe, and other political
-economic factors. These factors have contributed to a slowed economic situation not only in the U.S but also in the global economy.
Consequently, the extended issues have destabilized economic conditions, thus leading to more volatility in the markets. This has, in turn, pushed the U.S economy closer to an economic recession.
The impact of an economic recession on the cryptocurrency market
The cryptocurrency market has never experienced an economic crisis, and so there are uncertainties as to how it would be affected if an economic crash
happens sometime soon. However, since nobody really knows what will happen, everything is left to speculation. Cryptocurrencies were, in a way, made out of the frustration caused by the traditional monetary system. They are therefore designed to be immune to the same factors that fuel economic crises.
The cryptocurrency market’s performance over the past few months might shed some light on how it will likely perform in case an economic crisis happens. There was a period where the cryptocurrency market experienced a strong bullish trend, which was fueled by an influx of investment when economic headwinds were bombarding the fiat markets. This means that many people have been treating cryptocurrencies as safe havens.
My name is Justin Whitesides and I recently took the position of Division Manager for Bombard Renewable Energy. My team and I specialize in the development, design, engineering, procurement, construction and financing of commercial and utility scale solar projects in Nevada.
Solar, in itself is a very meaningful industry to be in especially now you can make an economic argument for its existence. The discussions here are typically cut and dry when presenting to for profit consumers as long as it meets specific economic thresholds and the capital can be procured. What I love about this company, and Black Rock Solar from the past is their innovative approach to expanding solar to tax exempt organizations that lack the capital to procure such systems. One such story is below.
Three Square is Southern Nevada’s only food bank providing food assistance to the residents of Lincoln, Nye, Esmeralda and Clark Counties.
Three Square’s mission is to provide wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. We combine food banking (warehousing canned and boxed goods), food rescue (obtaining surplus or unused meats, bread, dairy and produce from hospitality and grocery outlets), and ready-to-eat meals to be the most complete food solution for Southern Nevada.
They work with a service network of nearly 1,400 community partners, which includes non-profit and faith-based organizations, schools, after school and feeding sites – in their community to reach struggling individuals and families at risk of hunger. In 2018, we distributed more than 39 million meals, the equivalent of more than 47 million pounds of food and grocery product, through our partners.
What was done?
Through funds procured through the local utility's Low Income Solar Energy Program and a specialized Power Purchase Agreement (charge $xx per kilowatt hour produced) structure Bombard Renewable Energy was able to install a 547 kWDC system on the roof of their facility. The Power Purchase Agreement was structured so that the solar system would save them money on their electric bill on day one and after six years the system will be provided to the nonprofit at absolutely NO COST to them.
My four (4) years working for the Hybrid Nonprofit Black Rock Solar were some of the greatest years of my life. One of my favorite philosophers emphasized to live a truly purposeful life, is to find meaning in life. My meaning is taking my skill set (Business + Energy) and making as much positive change as possible. Black Rock Solar, through their work was able to donate over 5 Megawatts of solar facilities to tax exempt entities including Tribes, schools, nonprofits, churches, and public institutions. Here are a few of my favorite arrays I was able to get for free for my previous employer, The Yerington Paiute Tribe. To achieve this our team used a combination of grant programs, utility, donations and federal incentives.
SUN ARRAY | MAY 2011 | 30 kWAC
Google Earth Coordinates: 39 Degrees 04'25”N 119 Degrees 12'32”W
This 30 kilowatt ground-mount array at the Yerington Paiute Tribe’s Medical Clinic. This facility provides medical services to nearby residents and members of the Tribe. When viewed from the air, this array has the shape of a stylized sun.
BASKET WEAVE | MAY 2011 | 15 kWAC
Google Earth Coordinates: 39 Degrees 04'07”N 119 Degrees 12'18”W
This 15 Kilowatt ground-mounted array serves the Tribe's Commodities Building. Commodities is a program that provides food to less fortunate individuals within the community. This commodities building serves Tribe's all across the State of Nevada. When viewed from the air, this array has the shape of a basket weave, representing an important element of the tribe’s culture.
GAVEL ARRAY | MAY 2011 | 30 kWAC
Google Earth Coordinates: 39 Degrees 04'07”N 119 Degrees 12'18”W
This 30 Kilowatt ground-mounted array feeds the administrative services facility for the tribe. When viewed from the air, this array resembles the Tribe's emblem.
The gavel represents the Paiute Tribe's peaceful nature and the fact that they resolve conflict through debate and discussion.
THE YERINGTON PAIUTE TRIBE
The above arrays were part of a series of three symbolic arrays Black Rock Solar installed for the Yerington Paiute Tribe in 2011. These three arrays will save the tribe an estimated $14,300 every year, or over $350,000 in the next 25 years. All of this money will go to support the Tribe and its people.
AND FOR YOU COIL SUBSCRIBERS FIND OUT HOW BLACK ROCK SOLAR INSPIRED ELON MUSK AND SOLAR CITY.........
Recycling + Micropayments = CRV on Steroids
