Dear Recycle Lady
Are there any size restrictions on items to be recycled?
Too Large or Too Small
Dear Too Large or Too Small,
Great question. Large items are generally not a problem, but there definitely are size restrictions on small items. As a general rule, don’t recycle anything smaller than a credit card. Smaller items, such as bottle caps and coffee pods are so small that they can jam the recycling equipment. Bottles or cans smaller than 3 inches high are not recyclable for the same reason.
Before items are shipped out of the Recycling Center, they go down a conveyor belt and into a machine where they are compacted into a tight bale. It is during this process that small items fall out on the floor or fall into parts of the machinery that bring it to a halt. The time-consuming search is then on to determine the cause or to find the small item that has created a big problem.
Small pieces of paper are also a problem as they fall on the floor during processing and must be picked up later – also time consuming. Small cardboard boxes should be placed inside a larger box to prevent these problems.
Dear Recycle Lady
Are the boxes that contain frozen meals, frozen pizzas, and frozen vegetables recyclable, even if they are slick to the touch? Thank you.
Trying to do better
Dear Trying to do better,
Most boxes that contain frozen food can be recycled and made into new paper products, such as paper towels and tissues. As with all recyclables, be sure they are clean, dry, and that they are made of single-material packaging. Whether they are slick or not, these boxes are recycled with cardboard. Some frozen food boxes have plastic windows but that does not prevent them from being recycled and it does not need to be removed.
However, there are two types of frozen food boxes that are not recyclable. 1) Those with a waxy coating: Run your fingernail down the surface of the box and there will be wax under the fingernail and 2) Those that have a thin layer of plastic. These boxes are not recyclable as they will not break apart during the recycling process.
Kudos and many thanks to all recyclers who have put their old toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and floss containers in the bin at the Recycle Center. Before putting the toothpaste tubes in the bin cut off the bottom and remove as much tooth paste as possible.
Last week we mailed three 20 lb. boxes of these oral products to TerraCycle using postage-free labels paid for by the sponsor, Colgate Oral Care. If you are new to recycling oral products, look for the aluminum can bin and place your oral items in the tube on the left-hand side of this bin. Colgate recycles all oral products, regardless of brand.
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.
