Recycle Lady: Decoding recycling symbols

Dear Readers,

In weeks to come, this column will be discussing information on the recycling symbols that are beginning to appear more often on packaging.

The triangle of arrows indicates that the item is widely recycled.

The word “paper” indicates the category of recyclable material.

The word “box” indicates the recyclable parts of the packaging. It this case, it is the box.

There are four categories of recyclable paper: cardboard, newspapers, office paper and magazines.

The symbol shown in this story is beginning to appear on the bottom or side of more and more packaging. However, there is some confusion about this symbol that needs to be clarified.

There are three parts to the symbol. The upper most part of the symbol, the triangle of arrows, indicates that this item is widely recyclable. The word PAPER indicates that the type of recyclable material is paper. The word BOX indicates that the recyclable part of the packaging is the box.

For instance, the symbol on a cereal box would tell you that the container is recyclable, that it recycles with paper (cardboard, newspaper, magazine or office paper) and the part of packaging that is recyclable is the box. The waxed bag is not recyclable.

Cardboard, newspaper, office paper and magazines are all a form of paper. At the Recycling Center there are four bins, each labeled for one of these four categories of paper: cardboard, newspaper, office paper and magazines. Thus, when the product’s recycle symbol indicates that the category of recycling material is paper, the recycler must then determine to which of the four categories of paper the item belongs in order to put the item into the appropriate bin. Using the above example of recycling a cereal box, the appropriate bin is cardboard.

Interesting information: According to freetheocean.com, between the deposits of gold that exist naturally in the ocean, shipwrecks through the centuries and lost cargo, scientists estimate there are thousands of tons of gold in the ocean!

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.