Dear Recycle Lady,
When my newspapers were delivered just before Black Friday there seemed to be more advertisements bundled together inside the paper than news articles. The ads were a mixture of slicks and colored newsprint. And some that I couldn’t tell which type they were. How can I tell the difference, so I know whether to put the ads in with newspapers or as slicks in with magazines? Confused Reader
Dear Confused Reader,
I understand your confusion. Some newspaper ads appear to be slicks but are actually good-quality color print on newsprint. The ads that are slicks are generally printed on heavier paper than the ones that are printed on newsprint. Try wetting a small corner of an ad that you know is newsprint and a small corner of an ad that you know is a slick. When you complete this test, the corner of the ad that is a slick will still look and feel like a slick. The corner of the ad that looks like a slick, but is newsprint, will tear and feel like a newspaper. Any time you are not sure whether a piece of paper is a magazine/slick, office paper or newspaper, always put the paper in the magazines and slicks bin.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I purchased a Barbie doll for my daughter’s birthday. Almost the entire front of the box was plastic so the doll could be seen. When the box was opened, I noticed that the plastic in the front panel was hard. Must this piece of hard plastic be removed before the box is recycled? Cardboard Recycler
Dear Cardboard Recycler,
Yes, the hard plastic panel on the front of the box must be removed before putting the box in with cardboard recyclables. If it isn’t removed, the plastic panel could contaminate an entire load of recyclable cardboard. Large cities often have the equipment to recycle hard or rigid plastics, but unfortunately, that equipment is not available locally.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Dove bar soap comes in a cardboard box that is highly scented. Can this box be recycled with cardboard? Likes Scented Packaging
Dear Likes Scented Packaging,
Yes, the scented box can be recycled with cardboard. Interestingly, according to www.Globalrecycle.net, Dove has committed to packaging their cosmetic soap bars in paper boxes that are free of plastic. Dove is also making progress on creating bottles from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. Eco-friendly soap packaging boxes are also now becoming more available as is the practice of using less packaging. Thankfully, more manufacturers and businesses are working toward the development and use of zero-plastic materials.
Big Kudos to Kellen, and Mike and To When Pigs Fly, for hosting the tenth annual Giving Back Day—Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the WV State Fair’s Gus Douglas Building. They were supported by over 135 local businesses, churches and individuals who donated food and cash, plus the 150 volunteers who helped prepare, cook, serve, deliver, and cleanup. This year, 933 guests enjoyed a delicious free Thanksgiving dinner, including 604 dinners delivered by volunteers. Not only was everyone busy preparing and serving the dinner, they were also busy recycling cardboard boxes that supplies came in, steel cans, water bottles, and anything else that could be recycled. Special kudos to Barnwood Builders for their donation of all the compostable, environmentally friendly food containers, Greenbrier Automotive Group for their donation of 700 pounds of turkey, General Lewis Inn for their donation of all the potatoes, and the WV State Fair for their donation of the Gus Douglas Building. What a wonderful example of community support and involvement, of people helping people, as well as being eco-friendly and helping the environment! Looking forward to the 11th Annual Giving Back Day on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025!
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.
