Dear Recycle Lady,
Boxes that hold aluminum foil have a thin metal strip with teeth at the top of one side of the box. This metal strip is used for tearing off a single sheet of foil. Must this metal strip be removed before adding the box to the cardboard recycling bin?
Remove It or Not
Dear Remove It or Not,
Yes, the metal strip must be cut or torn off before it is put in with cardboard recycling. Cardboard and metal do not mix. You may not know that cardboard is our most recycled item. The bin at the Recycling Center is more than twice the size of the other bins and it must be emptied with a skid steer several times a day. This is a good thing as the sale of cardboard is fairly stable and helps to keep the Center self-supporting. Unfortunately, the Recycling Center is no longer able to accept aluminum foil for recycling as there are no buyers for it. Much of the new aluminum foil is so thin that it burns up with the amount of heat that is required for processing used aluminum foil into new foil.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Are there any problems in reusing plastic water bottles? Instead of purchasing new plastic bottles of water I have been refilling my old plastic water bottles.
Saving Money
Dear Saving Money,
Plastic water bottles, made of polyethylene (PET) #1 plastic, are basically made to be a single use product, and are not meant to be reused. According to Healthline.com, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved PET bottles for both single use and for reuse, but many consumer advocates urge the public to limit PET bottles to one time use only. There seems to be disagreement as to whether or not reusing single use plastic bottles is a safe practice. Some studies suggest that reused bottles can shed microplastics while others suggest that the amount of microplastics shed do not pose a significant threat to the health of humans. Some studies suggest that chemicals, such as BPA (bisphenol A), may leach from the plastic and be harmful to humans, while others suggest that the amounts leached are lower than what is considered dangerous.
There are concerns, however, about chemical leaching when a plastic water bottle is left in extreme heat. Increased leaching occurs at higher temperatures so leaving your water bottle in a closed-up car on a very hot day could be dangerous. According to www. Sciencealert.com, the one widely accepted risk of reusing plastic water bottles is not chemicals, but contamination. Plastic water bottles are made of a very thin plastic and are subject to cracks, which can harbor bacteria, particularly if the inside of the bottle is damp. So, if you do decide to reuse your plastic water bottles, be sure to wash them regularly and keep them out of extreme heat. Better yet, purchase a stainless steel or aluminum water bottle. The upfront cost is greater, but they are a better choice for many reasons: they last for years, they are proven completely safe for cold and hot beverages, they are easily cleaned, and are proven safe even in a hot car. Plus, you avoid the purchase of plastic and all the problems that go with it.
ECO TIP: Have you considered giving an experience gift this year? Instead of purchasing a material item, give a gift of something the recipient can do. Perhaps a gift card to a restaurant, movie, or theater, an annual pass to our national or state parks or maybe an online subscription for an interesting new subject. An experience gift involves no production or transportation of stuff that uses up natural resources and can cause pollution. It is a gift that is fun for the recipient and better for the environment.
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.
