Dear Recycle Lady

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 old chemist, Roy Plunkett, “stumbled” across this chemical in 1938; a chemical with a bond so strong it would last almost forever. Today it can be found in our water, air, bodies, animals, food, and homes. PFAS are in wildlife, fish, and soil. They are in grease-resistant packaging that holds takeout foods, plastic bottles, and disposable bowls. Current peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to a variety of health problems. For more information see EPA’s website, www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained.

Dear Recycle Lady,

I love working jigsaw puzzles. Because I work so many, I am beginning to have quite a large stack of completed puzzles. Any suggestions as to where I can donate them?

Puzzle Fan

Dear Puzzle Fan,

I also love working jigsaw puzzles, as do quite a few people in the area. Local libraries, Senior Centers and nursing homes all have puzzle tables and appreciate donations. Puzzles can also be donated to The Americana in Lewisburg to support their charitable efforts. Not only are puzzles fun to do, they are also good for your brain, so happy puzzling everyone!

Dear Readers,

A word of caution when putting an aluminum pan in the microwave. Be sure there is no aluminum foil covering the top of the pan. Doing so can cause overheating or improper heating. According to https://targetmicrowave.com, microwaves are electromagnetic energy that travel at the speed of light. They cause water molecules in the food to break down into hydrogen and oxygen, which causes the food to get hot and cook evenly. Aluminum foil interferes with this process. Plus, aluminum foil is a conductor of heat and can cause severe burns, if it touches your skin. It can also spark and start a fire.

Kudos to Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California, and Hawaii for pilot programs that are underway with results that have been very promising. They are using plastic wastes, such as printer cartridges, water bottles, and plastic bags in asphalt road mixtures so fewer of these plastics end up in landfills, or worse, in the ocean. Not only does this innovative solution provide a use for wasted plastic, but it also meets the performance and durability requirements of the roads. Plus, the asphalt road mixtures have produced no microplastic pollutant runoffs. Since the results have been so impressive, the program is being expanded in many states. These roads are literally paving the way for the future! (fto.com)

Interesting facts from the Greenbrier Recycling Center and the Greenbrier County Landfill: During the year 2022 there were 960 tons (1,024,000 lbs.) of recyclable materials shipped to processors and 42,085 tons (84,170,000 lbs.) of trash was processed. It was a busy year!

Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to recyclelady@greenbrier-swa.com.  Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.