Dear Recycle Lady

Dear Recycle Lady,

I have several partial sheets of left over white and colored cardstock. Can this cardstock be recycled?

Crafter

Dear Crafter,

Yes, cardstock of any color can be recycled. White cardstock can be recycled with office paper or with cardboard. However, colored, or dark cardstock is recycled only with cardboard. For your next cardstock purchase, please consider recycled cardstock. Eco-friendly cardstock is now being sustainably produced by certified paper mills in both the US and Europe. It is made from natural fibers and post-consumer/post-industrial waste materials that reduce the ecological footprint. There are several excellent websites available that have directions for interesting craft projects made from left over cardstock.

Dear Recycle Lady,

This spring I put in a new flower bed, so I now have lots of empty, black plastic pots for plants. They have a recycle symbol with a #5 in it. Can these pots from nurseries be recycled?

Gardener

Dear Gardener,

Unfortunately, black plastic pots cannot be recycled, but they can be reused. Locally, Hurley’s Flowers across the road from Greenbrier East High School happily accepts all used plastic pots and plant containers. After these used pots and containers are cleaned and disinfected, they will be reused to start the next year’s plants and flowers or to prepare growing plants for sale. A great example of a circular economy.

Dear Recycle Lady,

My family eats lots of bananas. Is there any way to reuse the banana peels?

Healthy Eater

Dear Healthy Eater,

You are not alone in wanting to reuse your banana peels. According to a 2013 study, about 40 million tons of banana peels are disposed of or go unused each year worldwide. However, banana peels do have a second life. For example, peels can be used to polish leather by rubbing the inside of the peel against the outer side of the leather, then buffing with a soft cloth. Peels can also be used to fertilize your plants. First soak the peels in a jar of water, then mix five parts tap-water to one part banana-water. A 2011 article in Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology found that banana peels contain many healthy antioxidants like carotenoids and polyphenols, so some people use the banana peels to enrich dishes and drinks. Chop the peels, boil them for 10 minutes and add to your favorite dish. Who knew banana peels had so many uses!

Interesting information: Blue whales are the largest animals to have ever existed and can weigh up to 200 tons (400,000 pounds)! That’s 30 times heavier than an African elephant. Astonishingly, just their tongue can weigh as much as an elephant! Blue whales are formally classified as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act as there are only 1,500 – 2,500 Blue whales left. Before whaling began there were 50,000 – 200,000 Blue whales in the oceans. Although they are protected, Blue whales are often injured or killed by vessel strikes or by getting entangled with ghost fishing gear. Environmental changes such as loss of habitat and toxics in water also threaten them.

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.