Dear Recycle Lady,
I will be canning again this summer, and I have several metal flat lids and rings that are no longer useable. Can these flat lids and rings be recycled?
Canner
Dear Canner,
The Recycling Center doesn’t accept the flat metal lids with a rubber seal. These lids are a single-use product and are not recyclable. It does accept all metal canning screw rings, and they are recycled with steel cans. Additionally, all screw-on metal tops like those that are on jars of items such as jam or spaghetti sauce are also recyclable with steel cans. As with all recyclables, they must be clean and dry before going into the recycle bin. When replacing your old flat tops, consider purchasing some of the new reusable split-type canning lids with eco-friendly, nontoxic silicone seal rings. There are also glass lids available that are made to be used over and over and are safe for both water bath and pressure canning.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Is it better to put unwanted food in the trash or down the disposal?
Puzzled
Dear Puzzled,
Good question and one for which there is not a real good answer. More than 21.5 million tons of food waste is generated annually in the US, according to stanfordmag.org. If this amount of food waste was sent to the landfills, it would clog the landfills, and the amount of carbon dioxide and methane produced would be equal to two million cars on the road. Putting food wastes in the disposal is not much better as it stresses sewage treatment plants and can potentially pollute the waterways. In general, considering climate impact and energy use, the disposal is better than the trash. However, there are several types of food that should not be put in the garbage disposal, according to master plumber, Karel Williams. Stringy vegetables like asparagus, corn husks and celery can wrap around the deposal’s blades causing clogs, jams or damage to the disposal and/ or your plumbing systems. Coffee grounds can accumulate and also clog both drains and plumbing. These foods would best be put in the compost. Putting hazardous materials down the drain can cause damage to both the disposal and the plumbing, and it’s also illegal.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Lately I have received solicitations letters in red and black envelopes. Are these envelopes recyclable? What about the plastic windows in envelopes? Do they need to be removed before recycling?
Reader
Dear Reader,
Locally, red and black envelopes are not recyclable, even if the backs of the colored envelopes are white. The fibers of these dark colored envelope are difficult to bleach enough to make them usable. Red envelopes are particularly difficult to recycle as the printing process makes use of ink and other chemicals that are harmful to the environment. The plastic windows in envelopes do not need to be removed. When paper is processed, called pulping, windows or staples are filtered out. White envelopes can be recycled, but they are also good for composting. However, they need to be shredded or torn into small pieces before adding them to the compost. Shredded paper is a good source of carbon for the compost, while food scraps and grass provide nitrogen. Together they balance out the green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials needed for good compost.
Kudos to Folgers Coffee for packaging their Expedition Blend of coffee in a cardboard box specifically designed for recycling and made with renewable resources! This product is available locally. Hopefully, it is an indication of more plastic-free packaging to come.
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests Recyclelady7@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
