How can waste ever be considered as a future nutrient?
Waste is Waste
Dear Waste is Waste,
According to sustainability-directory.com, Waste Resource Utilization is “transforming discarded materials into valuable resources within circular systems for ecological and economic sustainability.” In other words, there are valuable recourses in materials that are being discarded as waste can be made into valuable resources. Just ask Mother Nature. She will tell you that nature operates in a circular system where waste doesn’t exist. For example, decaying leaves and composting food scraps both transform organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. The Nature newsletter gave this as an example: In the United Kingdom, the Cardboard to Caviar project shreds cardboard waste into horse bedding, which is then fed as compost to worms, which are then fed to sturgeon to produce caviar. Each stage makes money, and the whole thing is an example of how to rethink the way we design municipal and industrial processes, writes architect Michael Pawlyn. Instead of a linear approach of “take-make-dispose,” let’s begin taking a circular approach where outputs from one product become input for another. If waste is not a considered worthless material, but rather as a future nutrient or as an underused resource, a new economic model emerges – one that creates wealth by consuming less.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What is electronic recycling?
Need Clarification
Dear Need Clarification,
Electronic recycling, also called e-waste recycling, is recycling, reusing, or repurposing old, broken, or outdated electronic devices. According to www.earth.org, it is the process of extracting valuable materials and converting them into tiny pieces that could be reused in new electronic appliances. Electronic wastes contain toxic substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which must be disposed of carefully. The local Recycling Center accepts all cell phones and electronic wastes connected to a cord, with the exception of TV’s, and TV like monitors that were on earlier computers. Flat screen monitors are acceptable. When you are at the Recycling Center go to the door for aluminum cans and drop your electronic items in the yellow basket by the aluminum can door. All electronic items are collected and sent to a company that specializes in recycling e-wastes. Many manufacturers and sellers of electronics offer recycling programs. Check out Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy, Amazon, Sprint, and Apple for their recycling programs. Dell Reconnect partners with Goodwill to accept “just about anything that can be connected to a computer.” Before donating or recycling used electronics, be sure to delete all personal information.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I use duplicate checks for my business. Can the paper that duplicates checks as they are written be recycled?
Duplicate Check Duplicator
Dear Duplicate Check Duplicator,
Good catch. The carbon copies of your checks are not recyclable. Shredded carbon copies of checks must not be taken/sent to the Recycling Center for disposal or included in shredded paper as they are a contaminate. Carbon copies contain several pieces of your information (name, address, phone number, etc.) so you would be wise to dispose of this information carefully. It could be used to steal your identity. Before putting carbon copies in the trash, cut the duplicate checks into small pieces, or shred them. Your bank may provide shredding as a service.
Good News: Over 4,000 companies worldwide are reporting climate commitments. (Source PricewaterhouseCoopers)
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests Recyclelady7@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
