Dear Recycle Lady,
In a previous column you said that it was not necessary to cut off the top of plastic bags. Does this include the Ziploc bags that have a zipper on the top of the bags?
Zipper Upper
Dear Zipper Upper,
Good catch. There are two types of closure for Ziploc plastic bags or other brand bags made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE, #4) plastic or high-density polyethylene (HDPE, #2) plastic. This includes all resealable plastic bags, such as snack bags, sandwich bags, and large food storage bags. The most common of these plastic bags have a selfsealing top that closes by pressing the two top layers together. These bags are totally recyclable. The second type of Ziplock plastic bags has two interlocking pieces of plastic at the top of the bag and a small white or colored tab that slides across this track to close the bag. These bags are recyclable also, but only after the zipper part has been removed. Be sure to check that there are no pieces of paper or food particles inside the bag and that the bag is clean and dry before you recycle it at Kroger or Walmart. When purchasing new small bags, please consider the newer reusable recyclable baggies. There are several on the market now: Cleanomic Bags, Beeswax Storage Bags, or Plant-Based Food Wraps. Have you considered using glass storage containers or glass canning jars for storing food? They are the best choice of all.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I just replaced four stove eye drip pans. The pans that I removed are all metal, but they are somewhat rusted. Can they be recycled? What about a metal wheelbarrow? Is it too large to be recycled?
Cook & Gardener
Dear Cook & Gardener,
Yes, your metal stove eye drip pans can be recycled, even though they are rusty. The old metal wheelbarrow can also be recycled as the Recycling Center accepts all items made of metal, except for extremely large items like a car. Take your drip pans and wheelbarrow to the Recycle Center and look for the sign on the right-hand side of the building pointing to aluminum can recycling. Put your drip pans in the yellow box on the porch and the wheelbarrow beside it. If you need some help, push the indicated button on the door frame and someone will come to assist you.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Are there really companies making products out of recycled ocean plastic? If so, what are some of these products?
Hard to Believe
Dear Hard to Believe,
Every minute a dump truck of plastic waste enters our oceans, says Erin Simon, head of Plastic Waste and Business at World Wildlife Fund (WWF). “From sea turtles to whales, plastic pollution is wreaking havoc on ocean life through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat loss due to pollution.” Thankfully, there are companies today that are committed to using these recycled ocean plastics to make new products. A few of those dedicated companies are Adidas’s Parley running shoes, Solgaard’s Shore-Tex backpacks and fanny packs, Sea Bags’ toiletry bags made from sailboat sailcloth, Leonisa Love’s swimsuits, Norton Poing unisex sunglasses, Humanscale’s high-performance smart chairs, Hanover’s 2 laptop backpacks, Ocean Sole & Sea Star’s beachwear, Kevin Murphy’s Ocean Plastic Packaging and the Marine Debris Bakelite Project, a collection of 11 Bakelite look-alike products. Also, there is evening wear, yarn, green toys, and surf boards available, all of which are being made from recycled ocean plastics.
Good News! A reusable microfiber-catching laundry filter, the “Fish Mouth” filter, floats or attaches to washing machines and captures synthetic fibers before they enter wastewater. Developed by researchers in Germany and inspired by the way filter-feeding fish draw in and strain particles from water. Once again, nature provides the blueprint for cleaner technology.
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.
