Dear Recycle Lady,
Is putting black plastic under mulch a good way to keep weeds from growing in a garden? Plastic or no Plastic
Dear Plastic or no Plastic,
According to yourdiybackyard.com/plastic-newspaper-or-cloth-under-mulch, using plastic as a weed barrier might not be a good idea. Putting plastic under mulch raises the temperature of the soil as it conducts heat, which could damage the roots of the plants. If you are using landscaping plastic that has tiny, perforated holes in it, the holes may not allow sufficient water and air for the plants to get all the nutrients they need, plus, weeds may grow through the holes. Additionally, the holes may get clogged with dirt and kill microorganisms in the soil due to the lack of oxygen and moisture. Plus, if you want to plant something different the next year, the plastic will be difficult to remove. Plastic is not biodegradable and is harmful to the environment as it doesn’t break down. Perhaps a better way to suppress the growth of weeds is to use newspapers or cardboard under your mulch. They are biodegradable, so they won’t hurt the roots of your plants, they won’t kill microorganisms in the soil, and they create a natural exchange of air and moisture between the soil and the atmosphere. Unfortunately, weeds will grow in the mulch, but they are easier to remove.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Is there a recycling program for crayons? I have a whole bag of used or broken crayons that I hate to throw out. Hopeful
Dear Hopeful,
Yes, there is an excellent recycling program that recycles used, broken, stubby, old or unwanted crayons: the nationalcrayonrecycleprogram.org. According to the National Crayon Recycle Program (NCRP), more than 60 million crayons are discarded in the U.S. every year and most of them end up in landfills. Since crayons are made of a petroleum by-product, paraffin wax, they are not biodegradable and take decades to decompose. The NCRP has partnered with the Crazy Crayons Company to create new fun-shaped crayons from recycled crayons. They also upcycle crayons to children in need as crayons offer a playful activity that can be therapeutic for traumatized children. However, the goal of both organizations is to “bring a smile to a child’s face.” Ship crayons in a sturdy box to the National Crayon Recycle Program, 8110 S. Houghton Rd. #158, Tucson, AZ 85747. Leave the color wrapper on the crayon even if it is torn as it makes the color of the crayon easily identifiable, and the wrapper is later recycled.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Why can’t waxed cardboard be recycled? Puzzled Recycler
Dear Puzzled Recycler,
Waxed cardboard is a corrugated (multi-layered) cardboard that has been lined with polyethylene to keep it from getting soggy. This waxy residue can be identified by scraping it off with your fingernail. Generally, these large boxes are used by wholesalers to ship produce to grocery stores. They aren’t the small paperboard boxes used for frozen foods, which are recyclable.
Good News: The Eastern Greenbrier Girl Scouts have now collected and turned in 700 pounds of recyclable plastic film. Good for the Girl Scouts. Only 300 more pounds to go!
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to Recyclelady7@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
