Dear Recycle Lady,
I know you recycle toothbrushes, but are there any other oral items that can be recycled?
Clean Teeth
Dear Clean Teeth,
Yes. There are several other oral items that can be recycled. All brands of toothbrushes and empty tubes of toothpaste, plus their caps, can be recycled. Try to get as much of the toothpaste out as you can before recycling the tube. Not only will that make it more recyclable, it will also save you money! The small plastic floss containers can also be recycled, as well as dental flosses and picks. Don’t forget to include all the packaging that the oral products come in. They are also recyclable. Deposit all these items in the small tube that is part of the aluminum can bin. Colgate pays for the postage for all boxes of oral products returned to TerraCycle and the Recycling Center has returned six boxes weighing approximately 25 pounds over the past three years.
What are plant-based cleaners? Do they do a good job?
Cleaner-Upper
Dear Cleaner-Upper,
Good question. Plant-based cleaners are cleaners made with environmentally friendly ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda; all of which have excellent antibacterial, degreasing, and stain-removing properties.
Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and deodorizer, lemon juice has antibacterial properties and a fresh scent, and baking soda is effective for scrubbing and neutralizing odors. Used properly, plant-based cleaners can be just as effective as chemical cleaners; however, they work more slowly so let them sit a while before removing them.
There are also several commercial cleaners available that are plant-based. They are made with ingredients derived from renewable plant-based sources rather than petroleum and synthetic chemicals. Also, biodegradable plant-based cleaners are less harmful for aquatic life than commercial cleaners.
Look for the EPA Safer Choice label or USDA BioPreferred certified. A significant part of these products must be plant-based. Tide PurClean ingredients are 75% plant-based and Clorox Ecoclean is made with 99% plant-based cleaning ingredients.
Seventh Generation has many plant-based cleaning products, as does Mr. Clean. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also approves natural cleaners with ingredients like thymol (from the oil of thyme), including Seventh Generation’s Disinfecting Wipes and Cleaners.
I recently replaced my lawn mower battery. Will my old lawn mower battery recycle?
Lawn Caretaker
Dear Lawn Caretaker,
The Recycling Center not only accepts lawn mower batteries, but it will pay you for them. Car batteries are also accepted as are all rechargeable batteries of any size, regardless of whether or not they will charge. Proper disposal of rechargeable batteries is crucial to prevent environmental harm and to recover valuable minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, lead and aluminum. I am sorry to say no alkaline batteries of any kind are accepted at our Recycling Center. However, according to battery manufacturers it is now safe to put them in the landfill. When you take your lawn mower battery to the Recycle Center, go in the door for recycling aluminum cans, push the button and a staff member will come help you.
Kudos to Mountain Table in Renick, WV for using a compostable bag for their k-cups and saving space in the landfill. Compostable bags are made from organic materials such as sugarcane or potato starch. They break down quickly, are biodegradable and can be composted at home.
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to [email protected]. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
