Recycle Lady: Why is trash picked up on some holidays when recycling isn’t?

Dear Recycle Lady,

There seems to be much confusion as to why on some holidays trash is picked up and recycle is not. Please Help

Dear Please Help,

If last weekend was typical, there is a lot of confusion on holidays as to why trash and recyclables are not picked up on the same day. The reason this occurs is that scheduled trash pickups by Greenbrier Valley Solid Waste (a private entity), which operates the trash trucks, is different from the scheduled recyclables pickups by Greenworks for the city of Lewisburg (a public entity). Trash is picked up every weekday with the exception of only four holidays: New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, but the city observes all 11 federal holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On these federal holidays, recycling is not picked up until the next day. For example, last Monday was Memorial Day, a federal holiday, so trash was picked up, but recycling was not. Recycling items were then picked up on Tuesday, the next day.

Dear Recycle Lady,
June is a month of weddings. I have seen various things used to throw at the departure of the happy couple instead of rice which is not a good thing to throw. I know of one couple who made their own confetti by using a hole punch to punch holes in leaves, and another couple who threw lightly dried flower petals. Do you know any other alternates to using rice? Summer Daze

Dear Summer Daze,

Back in Roman times, wheat was thrown on the departing bride and groom to shower them with prosperity, fertility and good fortune. When wheat became too expensive to use, rice was used as a substitution, and it is still used today. Although it is meant as good wishes, rice is not a good thing to throw at weddings. It is hard to clean up and bad for any birds that eat it. Plastic confetti is not a good choice to throw either because it is not biodegradable. Paper confetti, which is biodegradable, is a better option. Bubbles are not a good choice, as they can ruin a silk gown if they land on the it. Rose petals or herbs, like lavender or rosemary, make good biodegradable confetti and they add a lovely scent for the couple’s departure. Throwing flower petals in the summer and colorful leaves in the fall are both great ecofriendly alternatives to rice and plastic confetti. If the bride and groom are departing outside, one of the best choices is birdseed as it is not only environmentally responsible; it is also self-cleaning — birds will clean up for you! For an added touch, make festive bags of birdseed by wrapping a spoonful in a cheesecloth or a colorful cloth, tie with a ribbon and give them to the guests as they arrive.

Dear Recycle Lady,

I have several old and damaged cell phones that I would like to get rid of. Does the Recycling Center accept these phones? Cleaning Out

Dear Cleaning Out,

Yes, the Recycling Center accepts all cell phones but does not pay for them. They are boxed and sent to a company that repurposes the phones and their parts. Go to the door marked “Aluminum Cans” and ring the bell. Someone will come assist you. Clearing out your personal information is preferable, but not necessary.

Good News: Australia’s new marine park in the Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, is a very large Germany-sized sanctuary, providing a safe haven for seabirds, seals and penguins to thrive and frolic in their natural habitat. (FTO.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.