Dear Recycle Lady,
Exactly what can be recycled with cardboard? It seems to me that there is more in the bin than corrugated cardboard.
Cardboard Recycler
Dear Cardboard Recycler,
You are correct. There are several other kinds of cardboard besides three-layer corrugated cardboard that are in the cardboard bin. Paperboard, a single layer of cardboard, also goes in the cardboard bin. Smaller household and personal use boxes such as toothpaste boxes, shoe boxes, empty paper towel or toilet paper rolls and cereal boxes (with plastic liner removed) are made of paperboard and are recycled with cardboard. Several of these small boxes can be flattened and placed inside a larger box or a brown paper bag. I keep a mid-sized empty box in the pantry to put smaller flattened boxes in. When the box is full, I tape it shut so the smaller pieces don’t fall out during processing and send it on its way. Another cardboard recyclable is brown paper bags of all sizes. All brown paper bags, large or small, with or without handles, with or without printing, and just plain brown paper, are all recycled with cardboard. All three kinds of cardboard are used for making paper or new cardboard boxes which is good for the environment as it reduces the amount of greenhouse emissions as well as the amount of water used. It also reduces landfill space as every ton of cardboard that is recycled saves nine cubic yards of landfill space.
Before recycling any of the above cardboard boxes be sure to remove all packing materials, such as any Styrofoam forms, plastic peanuts, plastic wraps, and bubble wrap. (These items can be reused for packing or donated to PostNet on Route 219 North, where it is reused for packing boxes) Any packing tape, labels or staples on the boxes can be left on. Checkboxes for traces of food or grease, especially takeout containers, pizza boxes, and paper plates as food and grease are contaminates. Waxed-coated boxes containing liquids, such as milk and juice, are not acceptable, nor are frozen food boxes as they have a thin layer of plastic coating to protect them from condensation. Any plastic bags inside the boxes must be removed before recycling.
Please note, that recyclable boxes should not be stuffed in an animal food bag and put in the recycling bin as the entire bag will go in the trash. Workers don’t have time to empty the bag during processing, and the bag is not recyclable.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I have been collecting rubber bands from delivered newspapers for quite a while. Is there anyone who can use these?
Reader
Dear Reader,
Good thinking on how to “reuse.” I spoke with the West Virginia Daily News, and they thought reusing rubber bands was a great idea. Besides office use, newspaper carriers can reuse them to prepare newspapers for delivery. Accumulate bands of all sizes in a bag or box, then take them to the Daily News Office on Court Street or put them in their after-hours mail slot. Did you know that rubber bands are not actually made of rubber? According to Public Lab, rubber bands are generally made of a mixture of natural and synthetic materials, including a form of plastic that makes them more durable.
Good News: The United Nations High Seas Treaty, an agreement designed to protect marine biodiversity in international waters, has now been signed by 76 countries and the European Union. It’s a significant step, as the high seas encompass ⅔ of the world’s oceans! (fto.com)
Bad News: According to the American Farmland Trust, every day 2,000 acres of agricultural land are paved over, fragmented, or converted to uses that jeopardize farming. Their mission is to promote sound farming practices and keep farmers on the land.
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.
