Dear Recycle Lady,
Can Ziplock baggies be recycled? Must the top part of the Ziplock baggie be removed before recycling it? Some say yes and some say no.
True or Not True
Dear True or Not True,
Yes, Ziplock baggies, as well as other brands of baggies, can be recycled. However, it is not necessary to cut off the top part of the baggie, called a plastic zipper, before recycling as this top part will melt during processing. Just be sure the baggie is clean and dry. Baggies are made from polyethylene or polypropylene, both of which are regarded as safe for food packaging. Ziplock baggies were first made in 1973 by S.C. Johnson & Son, although they were invented in 1968 by a team of engineers with Dow Chemical Co. looking for a way to keep food fresh. However, it was the revolutionary plastic zipper, originally called Flexigrip, invented in 1951, that changed the packaging of food products to zipper bags now known as baggies.
The downside of Ziplock baggies and all baggies, is that they are made of plastic, which is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. As they age, baggies break down into inorganic matter and microplastics, and can leach chemicals into the environment. According to theguardian.com, most plastic sandwich baggies contain toxic PFAS or “forever chemicals.” The PFAS are added to the baggies to prevent foods from sticking to the baggies. PFAS are also used to prevent plastics from sticking to equipment during manufacturing, which, according to EDF researcher Maricel Maffini, is probably why PFAS are found in baggies. Fortunately, there are now non-toxic, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternatives available for plastic baggies. This includes Stasher Silicone food bags, Beeswax sandwich bags, plant-based food wraps, If You Care Sandwich bags, and stainless-steel sandwich boxes. All of these are eco-friendly, plastic free, reusable, compostable and most can be purchased at Earthhero.com.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What are ecosystems?
Need Information
Dear Need Information,
According to Khan Academy, ecosystems – whether marine, aquatic, or land-based terrestrial – are made up of communities of different species that live together in a particular area in combination with their physical environment. The community is the biotic or living, component of the ecosystem (for example, plants, animals, soil bacteria, and predators), while the physical environment is the abiotic, or non-living, component of the ecosystem (for example, sunlight, climate, water, and soil chemistry). Ecosystems are complex systems of completion and cooperation, where the actions of every life form can affect all the others, and abiotic factors impact all the associated biotic factors. This explanation only scratches the surface of Ecosystems and there are many websites available. See https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ecosystem/ for a more detailed explanation.
Good News! Non-compostable single-use coffee cups are now banned throughout Western Australia. Cafes can use compostable cups, and customers can bring in their own. With 500 billion disposable coffee cups used worldwide every year, this is a move in the right direction! (fto.com)
Please join us for our Earth Day Open House to be held on Earth Day, Monday, Apr. 22 at the Recycle Center on Monroe Avenue, in Ronceverte from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free hotdogs, chips, and drinks will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to recyclelady7@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
