Dear Recycle Lady,
Why must recyclables such as plastic bottles, steel cans, aluminum cans and cardboard be clean and dry when they are recycled? Isn’t there equipment that cleans everything before baling? To Wash or Not To Wash
DearTo Wash or Not To Wash,
There is one BIG reason for putting only clean and dry items in the recycling bins: contamination. It only takes one dirty item to contaminate an entire load of acceptable recyclables. The Recycling Center does not have the equipment to clean recyclables, so they must depend on the recyclers to bring items clean and dry. Companies that use recyclables to make new products have been known to toss an entire load of recycling into the trash when finding a single contaminated piece. A second type of contamination, called recycling contamination, occurs when a recyclable is tossed into the wrong bin. For example, a plastic bottle (even though clean and dry) thrown in with paper could contaminate the entire load of paper. In 2018, 800,000 tons of recyclables were rejected by the largest user of recyclables because they were contaminated. They all ended up in a landfill and were of no value to anyone.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Why shouldn’t prescription drugs be poured down the sink? I have done this for many years and never heard about not doing it. Wondering Why
Dear Wondering Why,
Unused prescription drugs contain chemicals that are hazardous to humans, marine life and wildlife. They should never be poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet. Pharmaceuticals pass through water treatment, but our sewage systems are not equipped to effectively remove all types of drugs; thus, they contaminate our water supply and get into the waterways.
When scientists with the U.S. Geological Society conducted a study of more than 130 U.S. waterways, prescription drugs such as antibiotics, pain killers, tranquilizers, cancer drugs, and birth control pills were found in 80 percent of the water. Drugs thrown in trash headed for a landfill can also find their way into the environment through the landfill liquid that is sent to a wastewater treatment plant. Like the sewage treatment plants, the wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove all drugs. Personal septic systems are no better at removing drug residues, and their water filtration seeps out into groundwater also. The best and safest way to dispose of unused medications is to take them to one of the local prescription take-back programs. The Greenbrier County Court House, CVS, and Greenbrier Medical Arts Pharmacy (GMAP) all have these programs. For further information Google “drug residues in drinking water.”
Dear Recycle Lady,
Several of my metal trash cans are rusty. Can they be recycled? Recycler
Dear Recycler,
Yes, slightly rusty steel trash cans can be recycled. As always, anything recycled should be clean so you may need to wash the cans out before bringing them to the Recycling Center. Take them to the Aluminum Can porch and ring the bell. Someone will come help you. New cans made from recycled metal take 95% less energy than new cans made from virgin materials. Some of the many new products now being made from recycled metal are household items, such as lamps, tables and sinks. Both bike and car parts have recycled metal in them. If possible, store your remaining trash cans in a dry secure area. Unsecured trash cans can become trash themselves. For example, a big, blue trash can that was used as a recycle bin in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was swept away in the ocean and later found on the shore in western Ireland. It had traveled approximately 3,500 miles and the sticker identifying it as a recycle bin from Myrtle Beach was still on it. An amazing journey!
Good News: The EPA has banned most uses of methylene chloride. According to the EPA, methylene chloride is a highly toxic chemical found in many paint strippers. Long-term exposure to this chemical can cause cancer. High levels of the chemical rob the brain of oxygen and can depress the central nervous system resulting in death, often in a manner of minutes. Methylene chloride strippers were banned in Europe at the end of 2010.
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.
