Dear Recycle Lady

Dear Recycle Lady,

What is wishcycling?

Wishing to Know

Dear Wishing to Know,

Wishcycling is putting an item in a recycling bin hoping that it is recyclable. It is pretty much a “feel good” action that potentially causes a large batch of recyclables to be contaminated and sent to the landfill. “If in doubt, throw it out” is a good rule to follow. You can always ask one of the workers at the Recycling Center if something is recyclable or give them a call and check it out. It’s better to throw out a questionable item than to risk contamination or doing damage to the equipment. Often several different recyclable items are placed in a plastic bag and thrown in a bin hoping that it all will be recycled. Locally, this bag ends up in the trash as there isn’t time or enough employees to open the bag, sort out the recyclables, and dispose of the bag. 

Dear Recycle Lady,

Help. This morning my mailbox was again full of catalogs that I do not want. I know they can be recycled, but is there a way to stop them from coming?  

No More Catalogs

Dear No More Catalogs,

Catalogs can be recycled, but reducing the number of catalogs printed in the first place is a by far a better choice environmentally. Fortunately, there is a way to opt out of receiving the unwanted ones. The nonprofit organization Catalog Choice is working to stop the mailing of unwanted catalogs and junk mail. Their website is: https://www.catalogchoice.org. It may take a couple months or so after listing your catalogs, but soon you will no longer receive them. I have successfully opted out of several catalogs this way. According to Catalog Choice, over 100 million trees are cut down every year to produce junk mail that often goes straight to the trash.

Dear Recycle Lady,

Can wax paper be recycled?

Waxer

Dear Waxer,

Wax paper is one of the few kinds of paper that can’t be recycled. Wax, or waxed, paper is made by coating a thin sheet of paper with wax made from a vegetable paraffin, petroleum oil, or soybean oil wax. Some waxed paper used for fast food is coated with polyethylene (PE) plastic. This thin sheet of wax prevents food from sticking to the paper and makes the paper moisture resistant, but non-recyclable.Waxpaper can’t be recycled as it is impossible to separate the coatings of wax from the paper fibers in the recycling process.There are several reusable eco-friendly alternatives, like beeswax wraps or fabric wraps, that can be used in place of wax paper. If you must use wax paper, be conservative and tear off only what you need. Also, avoid foods that come wrapped in wax paper.

Good News: On several islands off the coast of Maine, Atlantic Puffins have had their second consecutive rebound year for fledgling chicks! There are now as many as 3,000 birds and the population is stable. Hurrah for the Atlantic Puffins! (fto.com)

Bad News: Unfortunately, the Recycling Center no longer has a buyer for Aluminum FOIL or Aluminum PANS. Please don’t be a “wishcycler” and throw aluminum foil or aluminum pans in the recycling binshoping that they will be recycled: they won’t be. Aluminum CANS are definitely recyclable, so do continue recycling 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.