Dear Recycle Lady,
I know you have written about metal jar lids previously. Please remind me, which lids are acceptable at the Recycling Center? Want to Recycle Correctly
Dear Want to Recycle Correctly,
The size and the material of the metal lid determine whether or not it is recyclable. Large, wide-mouth jar lids that are 3 inches in diameter can be recycled. If the lids are steel, they recycle with steel cans; if the lids are aluminum, they recycle with the aluminum cans. Be sure to check the lids with a magnet before putting them in the recycling bins. Smaller metal lids are not recyclable locally as they can get entangled in the machine during processing, often causing breakdowns. Medium and large steel cans have steel lids that can be put inside the cans for recycling.
Earth911 recommends collecting small steel lids, or any small metal items, until you have a can full, then take them to a place where small metal is recycled. In Greenbrier County, that place is Boggs Scrap Iron and Metal located in Caldwell.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What are tree-corridors? I think they are found in forests, but I am not sure. Curious Reader
Dear Curious Reader,
Tree-corridors are found in forests, particularly in the rainforests that have been cleared and left in large fragments. According to dw.com, 500 years ago Brazil’s Atlantic Forest was the size of South Africa, but today over 90% of this global biodiversity hotspot has been deforested to make way for booming industries such as soy, sugar cane and cattle ranching.
The Rainforest Alliance is helping to connect these fragmented forests with green tree-corridors to “provide a lifeline” for animals, threatened species and pollinators.
Research has shown that when patches of forest are isolated from each other, pollinators are less abundant, and plants frequently fail to reproduce. Connecting forests that have been broken up with a pathway of trees, shrubs and native plants contributes to a richer biodiversity of plant species. Pollination by bees, bats, hummingbirds and other pollinators is also increased when they can travel safely and easily from one part of the forest to another. Healthy forests are an important part of the solution for global climate change and tree-corridors help keep them healthy.
Dear Recycle Lady,
When is International Coastal Cleanup Day this year? I read about it last year, but nothing this year so far. Cheering Them On
Dear Cheering Them On,
The 40th anniversary of International Coastal Day (ICC) was celebrated this past Saturday, September 20.
Data for the collection is still coming in, but last year, over 486,000 volunteers from around the world collected over 7.4 million pounds of trash globally, including over 1.4 million food wrappers, 1.2 million beverage bottles and 1.2 million cigarette butts, according to Ocean Conservancy.
“Over the years, nearly 19 million volunteers have joined local cleanup efforts to remove over 400 million pounds of trash, equivalent to about 10,000 garbage trucks full of trash removed from beaches and waterways worldwide,” according to Allison Schutes, senior director of Conservation cleanup.
It is estimated that over 11 million tons (22 billion lbs.) of plastic waste enter the ocean every year. This plastic waste never fully breaks down completely but breaks into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics that are now found everywhere, from the depths of the Mariana trench (the deepest part of the oceans of the world) to the top of the highest mountains and even in our bodies.
Interesting Information: A sunfish can weigh up to 2,200 pounds. This giant, flat fish looks like a swimming dinner plate and is one of the heaviest bony fish in the ocean.
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.
