Dear Recycle Lady

Dear Recycle Lady,

Thanks so much for the recycling advice! We both read your column every week. Sorry to be a nuisance, but we can’t agree (partly due to memory problems) on several things. Is there still a category just for black and white computer paper, or does it include other colors not shiny. Are envelopes included despite the glue? What tops on cans can be recycled?

Curious Reader

Dear Curious Reader,

Thanks for being a faithful reader. I greatly appreciate both of you and your questions. There are three answers to your first question. If the computer paper is white, it recycles with office paper.  If the computer paper is white, but is printed on with black ink, it also recycles with office paper. If the computer paper is shiny, black, red, chartreuse, or any dark color, it recycles with magazines. 

The second question has a simpler answer.  Envelopes will recycle with office paper, regardless of the glue on it as the glue will melt during processing.  The answer to the third question depends on what kind of metal the tops of the cans are made of – steel or aluminum.  Use a magnet to determine if the can top is steel.  There is a large magnet available outside the steel bin at the Recycling Center, if you need one.   If the magnet sticks to the cap, the cap is made of steel and recycles with steel cans.  Flat tops and rings from canning jars are recycled with steel cans.  If the magnet does not stick to the cap, the cap is aluminum and recycles with the aluminum cans. No plastic tops can be recycled locally.  

Dear Recycle Lady,

What are PFAS’s?

Unknown Acronym 

Dear Unknown Acronym,

According to https://abcnews.go.com/US/ticking-time-bomb-pfas” PFAS (Per-and Polyfluorinated Alkyl substances!) are a group of colorless, tasteless man-made chemicals largely unregulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and there is beginning to be a growing concern for the safety in drinking water of American communities.  PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment.Fortunately, PFAS found in most drinking water are EPA-compliant.Consumer watchdog organizations are looking out for all of us by working to “limit exposure to chemicals in water, food, and household products.”

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.