Dear Recycle Lady

Dear Recycle Lady,

Last week you implied that a waxed paper baggie was better than a plastic baggie. Is waxed paper really better than plastic? I always thought waxed items could not be recycled.

Confused

Dear Confused,

You are correct when you say that waxed items cannot be recycled. Conventional wax paper is not recyclable because it is coated with paraffin, a petroleum-based product that makes it moisture resistant and provides a non-stick surface. Although these waxed papers can’t be recycled, they can be disposed of environmentally as they decompose in approximately two to six weeks. Plastic baggies take 10 to 20 years, at a minimum, to decompose. There are some wax papers available now that are coated with a vegetable or organic soybean wax, as well as beeswax fabrics that can be reused after they are cleaned using cold water and soap. These baggies take only two to six weeks to decompose.

According to www.treehugger.com, there are several uses for waxed paper that you may find helpful. Rubbing garden shears with wax paper helps protect them from rust and adds a little lubrication. Wax paper also helps to unstick a stuck zipper. Just rub a small piece over the zipper to coat it with a thin layer of wax. This should help getting it unstuck. A DIY fire starter can be made by wrapping some dryer lint in a piece of used wax paper. Used or cleaned wax paper can also be used to make a water-resistant paper boat for a kids’ activities.

Dear Recycle Lady,

I purchased some frozen vegetables that were sealed in plastic inside a cardboard box. The box was totally clean and dry when I removed the packet of vegetables. Is this box recyclable with cardboard? 

Recycler

Dear Recycler,

The fact that the contents of your box were encased in plastic makes the box recyclable with cardboard. There are food boxes in which the contents are not contained in a pouch or wrapped in plastic. These boxes are not recyclable, as they have been coated with a thin layer of plastic to protect them from moisture and condensation. Check the back or side your box for the How2Recycle symbol on recycling. 

Dear Recycle Lady,

This morning I opened a piece of junk mail to remove any slicks and found the envelope contained a letter with a membership card glued on it. Must the glue be removed before recycling the paper?

Want to Remove Contaminants

Dear Want to Remove Contaminants,

It is not unusual for letters to come with a membership card, or other information, glued on the paper. As with any item glued to a recyclable item, the glue must be removed before recycling to prevent contamination. It is not necessary to remove the glue on the envelope.

Good News:  Every year, Americans generate about 42 million tons of single-use plastic – and only 9% of that gets recycled! The company ByFusion has created technology to shape all kinds of plastics, even nonrecyclables, into standard building blocks that can be used to build anything from fences and retaining walls to public terraces and bus stops. (Free the Ocean.com)

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.