Dear Recycle Lady,
I have driven by a scrap metal business on Route 60 near Caldwell. What kind of metal materials do they take?
Curious
Dear Curious,
There are two scrap metal businesses on Route 60 near Caldwell – Boggs Scrap Yard and S. S. Belcher Co. They accept most metals, but not paper, plastics or cardboard. There is more information about both of these businesses, including phone numbers, on the web.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Last week you said that plastics could be made from an organic polymer. What is a polymer?
Missed Chemistry Class
Dear Missed Chemistry Class,
The most understandable definition of polymer comes from kids.kiddle.co, unless you are a chemistry major! The word “polymer” can be broken down into “poly” (meaning “many” in Greek) and “mer” (meaning “unit”). This shows how the chemical composition of a polymer consists of many smaller units (monomers) bonded together into a larger molecule. Thus, a polymer is a molecule, made from joining together many smaller molecules.
Dear Readers,
Several months ago, I was asked how to dispose of Roundup. At the time I could not find an answer, not even from the Roundup website. However, I now have some really good news about its disposal. The WV Department of Agriculture and the Greenbrier County Solid Waste Authority are sponsoring a free Pesticide Collection on Saturday, May 15 at the Recycling Center in Ronceverte, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All West Virginians are welcome to bring their unused or leftover pesticides for disposal by the WV Department of Agriculture. All pesticides are accepted: Insecticides (kills insects), Herbicides (kills weeds), Bactericides (kills bacteria), Rodenticides (kills rodents), Larvicides (kills mosquitoes), Algicides (kills algae in water & swimming pools), Fungicides (kills fungi – blights, mildews, molds, rusts) and neonicotinoids (a group of insecticides that are highly toxic for bees and birds). More information will be forthcoming, but in the meantime, begin checking your garage, basement, and storage units for leftover or unused pesticides to bring to the collection for proper disposal.
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to recyclelady@greenbrier-swa.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.