Dear Recycle Lady

Dear Recycle Lady,
I read that vinyl chloride is a concern. Why is it considered harmful to the environment?
Concerned for Our Environment
Dear Concerned for Our Environment,
It’s good to know that you are concerned for our environment. It is something we all need to be concerned about given the changes in climate that are occurring. Vinyl chloride is a toxic chemical that has been linked to leukemia, liver, brain and other types of cancer. It is the building block of PVC plastic and a known carcinogen for humans. Vinyl chloride was in the news recently as the train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, was carrying vinyl chloride. In the aftermath of that catastrophic train wreck, residents suffered from sore throats and burning eyes. Fish were found lifelessly floating down streams. Vinyl chloride is definitely a concern for all.
Dear Recycle Lady,
My church has a small booklet that has a slick paper front and back with newspaper pages on the inside. Do I put it in the magazine bin or the newspaper bin?
Need Some Information
Dear Need Some Information,
Good question. There are two ways this booklet can be recycled. One way is to put the entire booklet in the magazine/slicks bin. The second way is to tear off the front and back pages and put those pages in the magazine/slicks bin. The pages of the booklet can then go in the newspaper bin. The staples do not need to be removed, and you do not need to separate the pages.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Are paper plates recyclable?
Like Things Simple
Dear Like Things Simple,
With very few exceptions, paper plates are not recyclable as they are coated with wax, plastic or clay to keep them from leaking and to give the plates a smooth surface. Wax-coated and Styrofoam plates can never be recycled. Styrofoam plates are the worst choice of all, as they produce significant amounts of environmental toxins. After these paper plates have been used for food, particularly greasy food, they go in the trash, as they would contaminate an entire batch of recyclables. This is true for all other contaminated paper products, such as paper napkins, paper towels and food packaging.
Fortunately, biodegradable plates made of bamboo, palm leaves and other materials are now available. After use, these plates can be recycled, go in your compost pile or disintegrate in the landfill, depending on what foods were on them. Kudos to Dixie Products, they make paper plates that can be recycled when clean and dry and microwavable plates that can be used to heat leftovers. Check out their website for more information on their use of sustainable forests and plant-based materials.
Seaweed is simply amazing, as it generates oxygen, provides food and habitat for marine species and is great source of food for humans. It’s also being used to make everything from bricks to diapers to cosmetics, but not bicycles… yet! (fto.com)
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.