Recycle Lady: Mushroom coffins, bottles and solar batteries

Dear Recycle Lady,

Previously, you said that white prescription bottles could not be recycled even though they have a recycle symbol on the bottom of the bottles. What about vitamin bottles or aspirin bottles? Are they recyclable? Healthy Recycler

Dear Healthy Recycler,

The Recycling Center does not accept any of these bottles. The company that purchases our plastic bottles does not want any prescription bottles or any bottles that have contained over-the-counter medicines, or even vitamins. There is some concern that the chemicals in the contents of such bottles would transfer to the new recycled product. Also, small bottles of any kind that are less than 3 inches in diameter are not acceptable at the local Recycling Center because they can easily jam the processing equipment.

Dear Recycle Lady,

What are mushroom coffins? Are they really biodegradable? Can’t Imagine This

Dear Can’t Imagine This,

Mushroom coffins are the latest green burial trend. They were invented in 2020 by a 29-year-old Dutchman, Bob Hendrikx, who considered the body to be a ”walking trash bin of 219 chemicals” that pollute the Earth. He began looking for an alternative burial container and since mushrooms are one of the world’s largest recyclers, Hendrikx created the first eco-friendly fungi mycelium or mushroom coffin. It was first used for the burial of an 82-year-old woman in the Netherlands. The mushroom coffin, sometimes called the living coffin, decomposes in 30 to 45 days and it turns the corpse into compost in two or three years. The simplest mushroom coffin is the same size and shape as a regular coffin but looks like a plain white rectangular box, with a lid. Some mushroom coffins even have moss draped inside the coffins for burial ceremonies. For those who want a traditional-looking coffin, mushroom caskets can be purchased that look just like caskets made of varnished wood. They come complete with a viewing lid and satin interior. 

Dear Recycle Lady,

My solar batteries are coming to the end of their life, and I am wondering what to do with them. Can solar batteries be recycled? Energy Saver

Dear Energy Saver,

Congratulations on thinking ahead. Proper disposal of solar batteries is important and yes, they can be recycled. One word of caution though: be sure to wrap each battery individually in newspaper and place it in a plastic bag. Although your batteries might not be strong enough to power your panels, they may still have some life left in them. If two batteries were to be jammed together, it could cause them to leak or explode. Take them to the Recycling Center and ring the bell that is on the “Aluminum Can” door. Someone will come to assist you. 

Good News: An estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers, and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton swabs are used in England every year! Thankfully, a country-wide ban on these plastic items has gone into effect. Locally, we can decline the offer of straws from restaurant servers and fast-food establishments unless they’re actually needed — less plastic used equals less plastic ending up in our environment!

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.