Dear Recycle Lady

Dear Recycle Lady, Are Christmas cards recyclable? If so, should they be put with magazines and ad slicks, or with cardboard? Does glitter pose a problem? Thanks! Putting Away Christmas Dear Putting Away Christmas, Yes, Christmas cards are recyclable. Most Christmas cards recycle with office paper, however, if they are...

Dear Recycle Lady, How do I recycle telephone books? What about paperback books? Reader Dear Reader, Yes, your telephone books can be recycled with magazines. However, be sure to remove any plastics, magnets, or other extras that have been added to the phone book. According to earth911.com, most phone books...

Dear Recycle Lady, I have seen PFAS mentioned in several articles. What exactly are PFAS? Curious Dear Curious, PFAS, often pronounced P Fas, are per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances. They are often called “forever chemicals” because they stay in the environment and our bodies indefinitely. According to www.consumerreports.org/pfas-food-packaging/dangerous-pfas-chemicals, a 27-year...

Dear Recycle Lady, Last week you requested information on what to do with old Christmas trees. Here’s a suggestion: give them to goats. My goats love them. https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/want-to-know-how-to-get-rid-of-your-christmas-tree-try-feeding-them-to-the-goats Love My Goats Dear Love My Goats, Great suggestion for anyone with goats! According to the website, goats love pine needles, which...

Dear Recycle Lady, This year my Christmas wreaths were made of pine wired onto a heavy wire frame. They were beautiful, but what do I do with them now? Are these wire frames recyclable? Hope They Recycle Dear Hope They Recycle, Yes, your wire frames are recyclable. Just remove the...

Dear Recycle Lady, Recycling takes time, money and thought. Why should we go to all the trouble to recycle? Hesitant Recycler Dear Hesitant Recycler, There are many excellent reasons why recycling is worth all the time, money and thought required: Recycling turns waste materials into valuable resources. It protects and...

Dear Recycle Lady, Dove bar soap comes in a cardboard box that is highly scented. Can this box be recycled with cardboard? Like Scented Packaging Dear Likes Scented Packaging, Yes, the scented box can be recycled with cardboard. Interestingly, Dove has committed to packaging their cosmetic soap bars in paper...

Dear Recycle Lady, Most wrapping paper comes on a long roll. Can the roll be recycled with cardboard? Wrapper Dear Wrapper, Yes,the wrapping paper tube can be recycled with cardboard. All those gift boxes you find under the tree after opening packages can also be recycled with cardboard. Just be...

Christmas time brings with it lots of tissue paper. Can it be recycled with newspapers? Christmas Wrapper Dear Christmas Wrapper, Tissue paper is one of the few papers that cannot be recycled at the Recycling Center. According to www.theroundup.org/is-tissue-paper, most tissue paper is made from virgin tree pulp, which takes...

Dear Recycle Lady, This year I am trying to wrap all my gifts in recyclable wrapping paper, as I want to be more aware of the environment and waste. Does this wrapping paper go in the newspaper or magazine bin? Wrapper Dear Wrapper, Thanks for being aware of waste and...