Dear Recycle Lady,
I was told that the plastic windows in envelopes needed to be removed before they are recycled. Cutting out windows is a pain. Is it really necessary to do this?
Not Windowless
Dear Not Windowless,
Generally, windows in envelopes should be removed as they can potentially be a contaminant and affect the quality of the recycled paper. However, plastic windows are such a small percentage of recycled office paper that most post-consumer mills can process the plastic out while recycling the office paper. While these plastic windows are not a large contaminant, the fewer there are, the cleaner the paper. Envelopes with windows are accepted at our local Recycling Center. If in doubt as to the proper way to recycle items, check with your local recycling center or guidelines.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What does biodegradable mean? I see it used more frequently now.
Interested
Dear Interested,
Biodegradable refers to materials that can be broken down by living organisms into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide and organic matter. Biodegradable items decompose naturally without leaving any harmful residue. Using biodegradable items helps prevent pollution in oceans and landfills. However, the term biodegradable can be used to describe anything that takes from 6 months to 1,000 years to break down. Consequently, the term “biodegradable” is sometimes used to market products that are not good for the environment; a practice called “greenwashing.” Greenwashing is defined as using an eco-friendly word, symbol or color, to market products as good for the environment when they aren’t.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I put my recyclables out for curbside pick-up. What do I put newspapers, magazines, office paper, plastic, and cans in, if I am out of orange and yellow recycle bags?
Recycler
Dear Recycler,
Newspapers, magazines, office paper, plastics, and cans all need to be bagged separately. Any bag is okay. Just be sure it is not a black bag as black bags will be picked up as trash.
Newspapers can be bundled and tied with heavy string. Aluminum and steel cans should be bagged separately, as should plastics #1 and #2. It is really helpful for the Recycling Center to receive these items already sorted.
Be sure to tie the bags tight so the contents won’t spill out when they are picked up. It is also a good idea to put recycling bags in a separate location from trash containers, perhaps on the other side of the driveway, as they may be viewed as trash. Orange and yellow recycle bags can be found in a green container outside Open Doors across the street from the Lewisburg Post Office. These bags are used only by residents of Lewisburg who have subscribed to trash pickup.
Helpful Hint: The Pacific Ocean, the largest ocean on Earth, spans more than 20 time zones. Protecting something this big starts with small changes at home. Using old cloth items for cleanup instead of paper towels is a small start that can have a big impact.
Good News: Hawaii is exploring innovative ways to recycle ocean plastic by incorporating it into road materials. This approach helps remove plastic waste from the environment while reducing the need for some traditional paving materials. It’s a creative example of turning a pollution problem into a practical solution!
Have a question about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to [email protected]. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
