Dear Recycle Lady,
I am trying to declutter several closets, and I have found odds and ends of LEGO bricks. Can these used LEGOs be recycled? No Children at Home
Dear No Children at Home,
LEGOs have been a favorite with kids for years and will be for many years to come. They are so popular that LEGO sells 75 million pieces every year. What to do with them after the kids have grown up has long been a problem; so much so that LEGO has introduced a LEGO recycling program. You can send LEGO bricks without cost by printing off the free shipping label. System Bricks, Duplo and Technic Bricks are all acceptable. Do not include building instructions or packaging. Before you pack the bricks in a box, be sure to break down any builds. They asked that you clean your LEGO bricks, although it isn’t necessary, by washing them by hand in water no hotter than 104 degrees F as higher temperatures may affect the bricks. Add a mild detergent and rinse them well in clear water. Don’t put them in a dishwasher or washing machine, and don’t dry them with a hair dryer or in the sun. The bricks will be sent to children’s nonprofits and other partners. According to LEGO.com, LEGOs has introduced recyclable packaging so that 93% of their packaging by weigh is made from paper, cardboard and other paper-based materials. They are also reducing single-use plastic and paper-based bags in all LEGO sets. This was a challenge, and they tested some 15 different prototypes with hundreds of kids and parents before choosing one. They are also testing out using only recycled plastic to make their bricks. For more information, see www.lego.com.
Dear Recycle Lady,
How many countries have banned plastic bags? Traveler
Dear Traveler,
According to worldatlas.com, the first country to totally ban plastic bags was Bangladesh in 2002. Their ban came about because the bags were polluting their waterways and drainage systems. A United Nations paper says that there are now 77 countries that have passed either a full or partial ban on plastic bags. All Australian states have a total ban on single-use plastics. The U.S. does not yet have a country-wide ban on plastic bags. However, some U.S states have implemented a ban on the single-use plastic bags. Polyethylene PET (#1 plastic), the most common type of plastic now used for bags. According to Plastic Education, plastic was first created in 1898. In 1933, plastic bags were invented in England. In 1953, high-density polyethylene HDPE (# 2 plastic) that makes plastics light and strong was invented. In 1965, Karl Ziegler, one of the chemists who invented HDPE, won the Nobel prize for chemistry. The one-piece plastic bag used today was designed by Sten Gustaf Thulin of Sweden. In 1979, single-use plastic bags first appeared in the large grocery store chains. During WWII, plastic was a highly guarded secret as the U.S. military first used it as an insulating material to place radar into airplanes.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What are PFAS? Not a Chemist
Dear Not a Chemist,
PFAS are a class of human-made chemicals that were developed in the 1940s. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cataloged over 14,000 different PFAS that are used in cleaning products, cosmetics, stain-resistant clothing, paints, and more. According to the director of the Environmental Health Science Center at Oregon State University, “chemists say that the PFAS have the strongest bond in chemistry, which means that there are no natural processes in us or in the environment to break them down.” Thus, they are called “forever” chemicals. PFAS make materials resistant to stains, grease, and water, but they also put our health at risk. According to Nutrition Action, PFAS are no longer in food packaging in the U.S. but are still found in more that 200 types of products.
Interesting Information: The blue whale is the heavyweight champion of the animal kingdom—ever! These gentle giants can grow over 100 feet long and weigh as much as 200 tons, making even dinosaurs look small in comparison. (fto.com)
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.
