Dear Recycle Lady,
I have an electric pencil sharpener that is now full of pencil shavings. Can those shavings be put into a compost pile?
Composter
Dear Composter,
Pencil shavings, being wood, are a natural material that is broken down by micro-organisms, so they are a good addition to your compost pile. Plus, the wood fibers help to aerate the compost, which is important to its decomposition. Pencil shavings add organic matter and bulk to your compost pile and are an excellent source of carbon that helps to balance the compost’s nitrogen-rich materials. Plant4harvest.com recommends shredding your pencil shavings before putting them in with your compost as the shavings can be sharp and could damage the plant roots. According to earthwildgardens.com, composting pencil shavings enriches the soil with valuable nutrients, promotes a healthy, sustainable gardening practice, and reduces waste going to the landfill.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Has there really been a vaccine for honeybees approved for use to prevent a disease?
Hope This is True
Dear Hope This is True,
Yes, the US Department of Agriculture has approved a vaccine for honeybees to prevent the American foulbrood disease, a fatal bacterial disease that destroys colonies of honeybees. It is one of the most destructive and widespread of the honeybee diseases. The vaccine is mixed into “queen feed” that the worker bees consume and incorporate into royal jelly. This jelly is then fed to the Queen bee. According to Dalan Animal Health that produces the vaccine, once the Queen bee has consumed the vaccine-laden royal jelly “fragments of the vaccine are deposited in her ovaries.” The queen’s larvae will then be born with immunity to the disease. The vaccine was available for purchase in the U.S. in late 2023.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Should I remove labels from steel cans before I put them in the recycling bin?
Can Recycler
Dear Can Recycler,
Labels on steel cans do not need to be removed before recycling the cans as the labels are destroyed by the high heat used in the recycling process. However, labels on aluminum cans do need to be removed, as they are not exposed to such high heat when processed. The advantage in removing the labels of both steel and aluminum cans is that they can be recycled with magazines, thus saving waste sent to the landfill. Wetting the labels somewhat when rinsing out the cans makes the labels more removable. Be sure that all cans and the labels are clean and dry before recycling them.
Interesting Information: Sylvia Earle, a legendary ocean explorer, once said, “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea.” Oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface, they regulate our climate and, no matter where you live on Earth, at least half of the oxygen you breathe is generated by an ocean.
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.
