Dear Recycle Lady,
This is a hard one and I sure hope you can help. How do I recycle/get rid of Roundup? I don’t want to give it to someone who will use it. I want to not only get out of my hands but out of everyone’s hands.
Save the Butterflies
Dear Save the Butterflies,
I explored various sources, including the Roundup website, for information on the disposal of left-over Roundup. They all gave me the same answer. Either take your leftover Roundup to the local hazardous waste site or contact the local Recycle Center or Solid Waste Authority. Unfortunately, Greenbrier County doesn’t have a local hazardous waste site and neither does the Recycle Center or the County Landfill. The best I could find was a method for disposal of a small amount of Roundup left in the can. The YouTube site, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrBHvzlXk7I, demonstrates adding a small amount of water to the can, swishing it around to remove traces of Roundup from the sides of the can, then pouring the mixture into a gravel or a waste area where you don’t want anything to grow. The container can now be put in the trash. I am currently doing further study and research on the possibilities for a hazardous waste disposal day at the Recycle Center. State tuned for additional information.
Under no conditions should you pour the leftover Roundup, or any household chemicals, down the drain, toilet or sink. Research shows that the most critical short-term danger of pouring chemicals down the drain is water contamination. When poured down the drain, the chemicals can have an impact on our rivers, lakes, streams, and other water sources. It can cause water to be unsafe for consumption and it may contribute to the development of a variety of cancers.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Last week you said that aerosol cans of paint could be recycled if completely empty. What about a can of PAM cooking spray made with olive oil. Does the olive oil prevent the can from be recycled?
Happy Chef
Dear Happy Chef,
No, olive oil in cooking spray does not prevent the aerosol, or spray, can from being recycled with steel cans. According to earth911.com, aerosol cans are used to store everything from food to bathroom products to paint. Regardless of their content, all of these aerosol cans can be recycled. Because aerosol cans are made of either aluminum or steel, they are a high-value metal for recycling. Both aluminum and steel items can be repeatedly recycled into new products. To recycle the cans, be sure the cans are as empty as possible. Do not attempt to remove the spray nozzle in an effort to empty the can. Unfortunately, the plastic top that covers the spray nozzle can’t be recycled locally. Actually, recycling an aerosol can is safer than throwing the can in the trash. The recycling process involves safely puncturing the can, whereas the can thrown in the trash could cause the can to explode unexpectedly when crushed in a landfill.
RECYCLING WORKSHOP
Interested in learning more about recycling?
Join us at the Greenbrier Recycling Center Friday, July 31, 2020, anytime between 10 a.m. – 12 noon
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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.