Dear Recycle Lady

Dear Recycle Lady,

Last week you said that if plastic film didn’t have the recycle symbol with a #2 or #4 on it to throw it out. What about dry-cleaning bags and newspaper sleeves? Both Kroger’s and Wal-Mart’s recycle bins take these bags for recycling.

Puzzled

Dear Puzzled,

Good catch. Yes, Dry-cleaning bags and newspaper sleeves are both recyclable. They are made of a thin, clear plastic known as plastic film or low-density polyethylene (LDPE); a petroleum-based product that is not bio-degradable. Newspaper sleeves, trash bags, poly mailers, zip-top bags, and grocery bags, are all make of the same LDPE plastic and are recyclable at Kroger, Wal-Mart, and Lowe’s. Additional LDPE products include plastic wraps around paper plates, napkins, bathroom tissue, diapers and more. Products made from these recyclable plastic films include juice boxes, plastic baggies, and wire insulation. According to http://recyclenation, Green Garmento now makes reusable bags for dry-cleaners to share with their customers. Let’s hope cleaners begin using these new bags as more than 300 million pounds of dry-cleaning bags are sent to U.S. landfills every year,

Dear Recycle Lady,

My husband and I get our prescription medications through the mail from a well-known pharmacy service. Each time they come packaged in a light gray, sturdy plastic envelope that has no recycling information on it; I think this envelope is a product of the US Postal Service itself since it has a tracking SKU printed on the plastic rather than on a paper label. Are these envelopes recyclable?

Impatient Recycler

Dear Impatient Recycler,

Yes, according to www.inspiredmailers.com/pages/recycle, the gray plastic envelopes, or poly mails, you receive from the pharmacy service are recyclable. See answer to above question. Be sure the envelope is empty, clean, and dry. If the mailing label is paper peel or cut it off, as paper is harmful to the recycling process. Plastic labels can stay on. Add these plastic envelopes to your other plastic film recyclables to be taken to Wal-Mart, Kroger, or Lowe’s.

Hello! 

Are half gallon milk cartons recyclable?

Hopeful Recycler

Dear Hopeful Recycler

Locally, milk cartons of all sizes are not recyclable. Large cities often have the facilities for recycling these cartons, but, unfortunately, the Recycling Center does not have the equipment to do so. Have you considered purchasing your milk in plastic bottles? These bottles are recyclable at the Recycling Center. Another alternative would be to purchase milk in returnable/reusable glass bottles.  

Good News: Last week I said that if plastic film doesn’t have a recycle symbol on it throw it out. However, I just found a test for plastic film on www.plasticfilmrecycling.org. They said that if the plastic film is stretchy and not crinkly, it is recyclable! So, if a plastic item has no symbol, give it this test before recycling or throwing it out. As with all recyclables, plastic film should be clean and dry before recycling.

Great News: Thanks to the many recyclers in Greenbrier and Monroe Counties, more than 790 tons of recyclables were shipped out during the month of August. This monthly shipment was greater than the total of shipments sent out last year. Hurrah for everyone who recycles!

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.