Dear Recycle Lady,
Thanks for the photos of the different kinds of clear (#1 plastics), cloudy (#2 no-color plastics), and white (#2 colored plastics) bottles. Seeing actual examples was very helpful. I heard that the Recycling Center is accepting toothbrushes for recycling. Are any other oral products accepted besides toothbrushes? New Recycler
Dear New Recycler,
All brands, sizes and shapes of new or used, non-electric toothbrushes are accepted. Also, all used or empty toothpaste tubes and caps, floss containers, toothpaste cartons and toothbrush outer packaging are accepted. Place all these items in the tube located on the left-hand side of the Aluminum Cans bin. Items dropped into this tube go into a shipping box below. When the box is full, it is sent to TerraCycle free of charge as postage is paid by Colgate. This free recycling of oral products and packaging is sponsored by Colgate Oral Care in conjunction with TerraCycle. To date, the Recycling Center has sent three twenty-five-pound boxes of used oral products to Terra Cycle for recycling. Kudos to Colgate Oral Care for caring for the environment and funding this project.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Here is a great example of upcycling! Appalachian Wild in Skyland, North Carolina is giving used mascara wands a new life. They are using the wands to “clean away oil, larvae, fly eggs, mites, infections, mud and other contaminants from wildlife, as well as for medical care and wound treatment. Upcycler
Dear Upcycler,
What a great reuse of a commonly used product! However, one change has been made that is not noted in the information about upcycling the wands. Appalachian Wildlife in Western North Carolina, a nonprofit that coordinates wildlife rehabilitation efforts, no longer accepts these wands as the project has grown too large. Used mascara wands are now being accepted by Wands for Wildlife, which has expanded efforts to support wildlife caregivers on a much larger scale. People around the world are supporting the re-purposing of discarded mascara wands and helping both wild animals and the environment. See www.wandsforwildlife.org for more information. Lewisburg Girl Scout Troop #1919 is setting up locations for the collection of these used mascara wands. More information on these sites to follow next week so begin your collection now. Prepare the wands for donation by cleaning them with Dawn soap. After the wands are dry, put them in a bag or box until future notice of collection sites.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I hear it’s better for the environment to let leaves remain on the grass instead of raking and bagging them. Why is it better to leave the leaves in my yard? Leaf Raker
Dear Leaf Raker,
According to tomsguide.com, the leaves in your yard are essentially organic matter that composts over time and turns into beneficial substances such as minerals and microbes. The key nutrients in fallen leaves will feed your soil and help make your grass healthier and greener. Mowing over your lawn will shred the leaves into smaller pieces and they become a natural lawn fertilizer. Fallen dry leaves can also be used as mulch in your flower bed. Scatter them around the plants to help keep down the growth of weeds.
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.
