Dear Recycle Lady,
I have been tearing off the corner of stapled papers before putting them in recycling. Is it possible to recycle paper with staples in it? Interested Recycler
Dear Interested Recycler,
Yes, paper can be recycled with staples left in it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “paper mills that process recovered paper are set up to remove common contaminants such as staples, from the pulped paper.” Therefore, it is not necessary to remove staples before recycling the paper. However, all paper clips MUST be removed as they can tear up the belts during processing. As with all recyclables, the paper must be dry and clean.
Dear Recycle Lady,
When I receive my prescriptions in the store or delivered, they are packaged in a white paper bag. Are these bags recyclable with office paper? Savvy Shopper
Dear Savvy Shopper,
I am happy to say that today most every kind of single-use bag is recyclable. Your white paper bags are recyclable with office paper. Brown paper bags are recyclable with cardboard and single-use plastic bags are recyclable at Kroger, Walmart and Lowes. Have you considered taking your own bags when shopping, especially at the grocery store? Many sizes and shapes are available that are environmentally friendly. It takes a while to get into the habit of taking your own bags, but it is worth the effort.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What are plant-based cleaners? Cleaner-Upper
Dear Cleaner-Upper,
Good question. Plant-based cleaners are cleaners made with environmentally friendly ingredients. Natural ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda have excellent antibacterial, degreasing, and stain-removing properties. Used properly, they can be just as effective as chemical cleaners; however, they work more slowly, so let them sit a while before removing them. See https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/natural-cleaning-recipes/ for making your own cleaning products. There are several commercial cleaners that are plant-based. Look for the EPA Safer Choice label or the USDA BioPreferred certified. Tide PurClean ingredients are 75% plant-based and Clorox Ecoclean is made with 99% plant-based cleaning ingredients. Seventh Generation has many plant-based cleaning products, as does Mr. Clean. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also approves natural cleaners with ingredients like thymol (from the oil of thyme), including Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes and Cleaners. There are several brands of laundry detergents available now that come in the form of laundry detergent sheets. These sheets are eco-friendly as they are plastic-free and lightweight, so no more heavy plastic bottles of detergent. They dissolve in the wash and are as tough on stains as liquid detergents. Even the packaging is environmentally friendly so there is no leftover waste to send to the landfill. You may have to try more than one brand to find the perfect one for you, but I highly recommend them. Google laundry detergent sheets for more information and choices available.
Good News: Coral reefs in the southern Pacific Ocean are showing signs of recovery from the natural disasters that have occurred in recent years. Coral is growing again and clownfish, starfish and turtles have been seen in the corals.
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.
