Recycle Lady: Candy wrappers, toys and fuel

Dear Recycle Lady,

I was given a box of delicious candy for my birthday, and all the small pieces of candy were wrapped in aluminum foil. Are small pieces of foil recyclable? Do they cause problems for the equipment? Candy Wrapper

Dear Candy Wrapper,

Good question. Locally, we are not able to accept small pieces of aluminum foil as they, like small pieces of any recyclables, tend to fall out during the baling process. As the floor must be kept clean, small pieces of foil, or any recyclables, create additional work for employees. Small pieces of recyclables also potentially cause problems with the equipment, sometimes even stopping the entire process. Medium size pieces of foil can be wrapped inside larger pieces of foil so they are contained and will withstand processing. Large cities with high-end recycling equipment are able to recycle small recyclables that locally we are unable to do.

Dear Recycle Lady,

Last week you stated that shipping companies are helping the environment by using green methanol to reduce greenhouse emissions and air pollution. Since airlines also create one billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) yearly, what are they doing to help the environment? Concerned for the Environment.

Dear Concerned for the Environment,

According to environmentalleader.com/2023, the airlines also have a plan to achieve carbon neutrality. Air Canada hopes to be net zero by 2050 and has ordered 30 hybrid aircraft. This aircraft will have an all-electric range of 124 miles for 30-passenger planes. Green hydrogen-derived sustainable aviation fuels made of various forms of renewable energy are projected to take off within 15 to 25 years. These sustainable aviation fuels will be made from sewage sludge, food waste, and animal waste; all of which mix easily with jet fuels. A study by Clean Sky 2 and Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 says that hydrogen-powered aircraft could be ready for flight as early as 2035, although 2050 may be more doable for longer flights.

Dear Recycle Lady,

Yesterday I saw a child’s metal wagon in the trash pickup. Could that wagon have been recycled? Toy Finder

Dear Toy Finder,

The metal wagon could indeed have been recycled. Anything that is mostly metal is recyclable. Items such as metal baseball bats, outdoor Barbeque grills and tools, old knives, and metal dog bowls are all recyclable. Plastic scooters and plastic toys, however, are not recyclable. Metal items should be taken to the Recycle Center. Go to the door marked aluminum cans and ring the bell. Someone will come to assist you.

Bad News: According to worldwildlife.org, between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear is discarded or lost in the ocean each year. Called ghost fishing gear, it entangles marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks, bringing a slow and painful death through exhaustion and suffocation. Ghost fishing gear also damages coral reefs and is responsible for the loss of commercially valuable fish stocks. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is collaborating with fishermen, government agencies and other interested organizations to innovate new, traceable fishing gear, develop tools to better track and recover gear, and find ways to locate and retrieve lost and abandoned gear.

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