Dear Recycle Lady

Dear Recycle Lady,  While cleaning out my garage I found several chains of various lengths.  Can these chains be recycled?  Also, I found several partial boxes of unused nails. Can they be recycled?  Cleaner-Upper Dear Cleaner-Upper If the chains are metal, and not plastic, they can be recycled with metal....

Dear Recycle Lady,  Should I remove labels from steel cans before I put them in the recycling bin? Can Recycler Dear Can Recycler, Labels on steel cans do not need to be removed before recycling the cans. The labels are disposed of by the high heat used in the recycling...

Dear Recycle Lady,  I have several very used gardening tools, such as hoes, spades, that are metal. Can they be recycled?  Recycling Gardner Dear Recycling Gardner, Absolutely. Your gardening tools can be recycled with metal. When you take them to the Recycle Center, go to the door for Aluminum cans...

Dear Recycle Lady, I have accumulated many photos over the years and lately I have been sorting and organizing them. Can unwanted photographs be recycled? Does it matter whether they are black and white or colored photos? Thanks for your help. Organizer Dear Organizer, Unfortunately, photographs are not recyclable. Chemical...

Dear Recycle Lady, I know that only bottles and jugs can be recycled and to be a bottle or jug, the cap on top must be smaller than the bottom. What do I do with a bottle whose top appears to be very close to the same size as the...

Dear Recycle Lady, Can a grill with a rusted-out tray be recycled? Griller Dear Griller, Yes, your grill can be recycled. Take it to the Recycle Center, go to the door for aluminum can and push the button. Someone will come to help you.   Good afternoon! I had a...

Dear Recycle Lady, Are 12-volt batteries recyclable? Hopeful Recycler Dear Hopeful Recycler, Yes, the Greenbrier Recycling Center does recycle 12-volt batteries, as does the S.S. Belcher Co. in Caldwell. Both places recycle any lead-acid batteries. This includes car, truck, and lawn mower batteries, but not small non-rechargeable batteries.   Dear...

Hi Recycle Lady, My biggest conundrum with recycling is the apparent absence of options for utilizing green &/or brown glass bottles. Although they cannot be "recycled" into new containers is there not some way they can be utilized? I'm not talking about putting them in walls or gardens, but on...

Dear Recycle Lady, May I recycle steel lids used on top glass jars? With that asked, I have been placing steel can lids inside my washed cans. Does this cause problems? Canner Dear Canner, Yes, steel lids are recyclable with steel cans. Kudos to you for placing the can lids...

Dear Recycle Lady, Can paint cans be recycled?  Must they be empty before being recycled? Painter Dear Painter, If your paint cans are empty, and the paint is completely dried, the cans can be recycled with steel cans. Be sure the cans are steel; test them with a magnet if...