<strong><img class="wp-image-61419 alignleft" src="https://mountainmessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/03/recycle-lady.jpeg" alt="" width="722" height="468" />Dear Recycle Lady,</strong> The recycle symbol on my plastic laundry jug says it is recyclable with plastics. Which plastic bin do I put it in? <em>Washer Lady</em> <strong>Dear Washer Lady,</strong> The recycle symbol on your plastic laundry jug should be a triangle with the number 2 inside it. This triangular symbol indicates that your jug goes in a bin for #2 plastic bottles and jugs. Next, check the color of your jug, as there are two #2 plastic bins: one for #2 CLEAR plastics and one for #2 COLORED plastics. See photo for examples of #2 COLORED plastics. Be sure your jug is clean and dry as bottles and jugs that are not clean could contaminate an entire load of recyclable materials. Have you considered any of the alternatives to laundry detergents packaged in plastic jugs? There are several eco-friendly laundry strips and tablets available now. Hopefully, there will soon be more choices as approximately 1 billion (1,000,000,000,000!) plastic laundry jugs end up in U.S. landfills every year. Recycled jugs are re-purposed in several ways. For example, Green Toys makes toys and eating utensils from recycled plastic jugs. Repreve makes athletic and fashion apparel from plastic jugs, and Max -R-Lumber makes lumber from milk jugs. <strong>Dear Recycle Lady,</strong> Spring is upon us, and if any of your readers are wondering what plants to grow, here is some information I have found helpful. First of all, there are benefits to using native plants in your garden - they are low maintenance, conserve water, add beauty to the landscape, and provide food and shelter for wildlife. Second, according to author Doug Tallamy in Bringing Nature Home, “When native plants disappear, the insects disappear, thus impoverishing the food source for birds and other mammals.” Native plants and seeds can be purchased locally from Sunshine Farm & Gardens in Renick, WV (www.sunfarm.com, 304-497-2208) or they can be purchased online from http://www.prairiemoon.com. <em>Lover of Birds, Bees, and Food</em> <strong>Dear Lover of Birds, Bees and Food,</strong> Thanks for the very timely information. Calling our attention to the value of native plants may inspire readers to use native plants in their gardens. To find native plants using your zip code, go to https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Plants. <strong>Dear Readers,</strong> Don’t forget Earth Hour, which is this Saturday, Mar. 27 from. 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Millions of people, landmarks, cities and businesses from around the world will turn off their non-essentials lights for one hour to show their commitment to protecting nature. The Empire State Building, the Space Needle, and Niagara Falls are among large locations that will be participating. More information at https://www.earthreminder.com/earth-hour-2021.” 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
