Dear Recycle Lady,
This is canning season and I have several metal flat lids and rings that are no longer useable. Can these flat lids and rings be recycled?
Canner
Dear Canner,
The Recycling Center accepts all the metal canning screw rings, which are recycled with steel cans. However, it doesn’t accept the flat metal tops with a rubber gasket. These are a single-use product and are not recyclable. All screw-on metal tops that are on jars of items such as jam or spaghetti sauce, are also recyclable with steel cans. As with all recyclables, they must be clean and dry before going in the recycle bins. When replacing your old flat tops, consider purchasing some of the new reusable split-type canning lids with eco-friendly, nontoxic silicone seal rings. There are also glass lids available that are made to be used over and over and are safe for both water bath and pressure canning.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Do plastic bottles need to be flattened or crushed before they are put in the bag or bin for recycling? I was told that this needed to be done.
Whole Bottle Recycler
Dear Whole Bottle Recycler,
No, #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs do not need to be flattened or crushed before recycling. However, be sure to remove the caps before adding them to recyclables. Some of the newer bottles say to recycle the bottle with the cap on, but the Recycling Center doesn’t have the equipment to remove the caps. Bottles and caps are made with different kinds of plastics that have different melting points; thus, they must be separated before processing. Plus, when the bottles are compacted into bales, the extreme pressure causes the caps to shoot out and could seriously hurt anyone in their path. Ever wonder how a plastic bottle might be reused? One idea is to drill holes in the bottle and bury it with your plants that need a good supply of water. Pour water in the buried bottle and your plantswill have aslow stream of water. The website, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEAOvFG1AmM, has 38 clever ideas for things to create from an empty bottle. It’s most interesting to watch!
Dear Recycle Lady,
I have torn down a small building with a metal roof. Can the metal roofing be recycled?
Glad it’s Done
Dear Glad it’s Done,
Yes, metal roofing is 100% recyclable. Any old panels or leftover scraps of metal that you have can also be recycled. When you take metal to the Recycling Center, go to the aluminum cans door, and press the button. Staff will assist you. Metal roofing, and other metals, are recycled into appliances, cans, plumbing and other such products. Recycled metal roofing and recycled aluminum roofing are both now available for your new roof.
Good News. Although there’s still a long way to go, scientists report a “heartening” 30% reduction in plastic pollution on Australia’s coast. The cleaner coastlines are thanks to the dedicated work by local governments to reduce litter. (fto.com) McDonald’s Australia assisted in these efforts and announced in 2020 that plastic cutlery was to be phased out nationwide by the end of the year. Kudos to Australia!
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.
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