Dear Recycle Lady,
How about paper towels? Do they compost? Can they be recycled? If so, how clean must they be? Thank you. Nature Enthusiast
Dear Nature Enthusiast,
Yes, most paper towels can be composted. They are rich in carbon and nitrogen and will add beneficial bacteria. Both white and brown paper towels that are unused or have been used for dusting, drying dishes or hands are good choices for composting.
Paper towels that have been used with strong chemicals or cleaning products or have been used to clean up greasy items such as butter or oil should not be added to the compost. They can cause breeding of bacteria that you do not want in your compost.
For best and quickest results, tear wet or dry paper towels into small pieces before adding them to the compost bin. This will help speed up decomposition. Don’t forget to put the cardboard tube in the cardboard bin for recycling.
Paper towels, however, can’t be recycled as they are made of a mixture of wood, cardboard and paper by-products that have been beaten down to a pulp; a process that breaks down or weakens the fibers. Some paper towels may also have glues, resins, softeners or bleach added to increase strength, texture, absorption, and/or coloring of the towels.
There are now environmentally friendly paper towels available that are made of 100% recycled paper. No trees are cut down, and no waste is sent to the landfill.
Have you considered creating a “grandma’s ragbag?” It’s a great way to reuse old, worn-out items of clothing, towels and bedding. Just use them, throw them in the washer and put them back in the ragbag to be used again.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I have several hummingbirds that have come to my feeder all summer. How long should I leave the feeder up? Love These Beautiful Birds
Dear Love These Beautiful Birds,
Keep your hummingbird feeders up as long as you are seeing hummingbirds and even longer as the birds you saw in the summer have probably already migrated south. The migrating birds that come through here from up north also need food available.
According to https://birdwatchingbuzz.com/when-to-stop-feeding-hummingbirds/, when you live in West Virginia, you should leave your hummingbird feeder up until the end of October or early November so these migrating birds have nectar available to help them on their long journey. Male hummingbirds begin migrating in late summer, but female birds and juvenile birds generally tend to stay longer if a good supply of food is available.
Be sure to always keep the feeder clean. If you see any mold on the feeder, clean it immediately. Hot tap water with some hydrogen peroxide added works well as does a weak vinegar solution. Dish soaps should be avoided as they can leave harmful residue in the feeder. Audubon.com recommends cleaning the feeder several times a week during hot weather. They also recommend using only refined white sugar to make the nectar; never adding red coloring, as it can be harmful to the birds. The best nectar for hummingbirds is one part white granulated sugar added to 4 parts clean boiled water. In other words, ¼ cup of sugar to one cup of boiled water.
Good News! Two Texas teens won the Gordon E. Moore Award for inventing a pen-sized device that uses ultrasonic sound waves to remove up to 94% of microplastics from water. Their design “sweeps” particles aside, offering potential for use in water treatment, industry, and even home appliances. (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.
