Dear Recycle Lady,
I know that small plastic lids can’t be recycled. What about small metal lids that come on bottles and jars? Are they recyclable?
Recyclable or Not Recyclable
Dear Recyclable or Not Recyclable,
The size and the material of the metal lid determines whether or not it is recyclable. Large wide-mouth jar lids that are 3 inches in diameter can be recycled. If the lids are steel, they recycle with steel cans, if the metal lids are aluminum, they recycle with the aluminum cans. Be sure to check the lids with a magnet before putting them in the recycling bins. Smaller metal lids are not recyclable locally as they can get entangled in the machine during processing, often causing breakdowns. Medium and large steel cans have steel lids that can be put inside the cans for recycling. Earth911 recommends collecting small steel lids, or any small metal items, until you have a can full, then take them where small metal is recycled. In Greenbrier County, that place is Boggs Scrap Iron and Metal located in Caldwell.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I used to have lots of birds at my winter feeders, but the last couple years I haven’t had nearly so many. Why is the number of birds coming to my feeders decreasing?
Love the Birds
Dear Love the Birds,
According to the National Audubon Society, habitat loss and climate change is causing bird declines across the Americas. The continental U.S. alone has lost 150 million acres of farmland and habitat, and the isolated natural areas aren’t large enough to adequately support birds. Climate change and extreme weather events pose threats to birds. They estimate that two-thirds may face extinction by 2080, if rising temperatures are not stabilized.
Dear Recycle Lady,
We live in Lewisburg and have trash pickup and curbside pickup for recyclables. Is the day for curbside pickup always the same as the day for trash pickup? National holidays always cause a problem. Please help me with this.
Mixed-up Recycler
Dear Mixed-up Recycler,
The most confusing aspect of the pick-up schedule for trash and recyclables is that Greenworks, which picks up the recyclables, observes all 11 national holidays, while Greenbrier Valley Solid Waste, which picks up the trash, observes only four national holidays (New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.) Whenever your recyclables are scheduled to be picked up on one of the national holidays, your recyclables will be picked up on the next business day. For a calendar listing of all curb side pickup days for recyclables, go to GreenworksRecycling.com. Click on Blog found in the column on the left-hand side of the page. It will take you to the link for the 2024 calendar, as well as a list of all the holiday exceptions.
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Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to grecycle450@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
