Dear Recycle Lady,
Can Ziplock baggies be recycled? Must the top part of the Ziplock baggie be removed before recycling it? Some Say Yes and Some Say No
Dear Some Say Yes and Some Say No,
Yes, Ziplock baggies, as well as other brands of baggies, can be recycled in the Trex Boxes for plastic film. These boxes are at the Recycling Center, Amy’s, Lewisburg Methodist Church and St. James episcopal Church. However, there are two types of zipper closings on the baggies that must be considered before recycling the baggies. The zipper that is totally part of the baggie does not need to be removed as it is the same kind of plastic as the lower part. However, the zipper that is made of hard plastic and is pulled across the top of the bag to close it must be removed before recycling as it is made of a different kind of plastic. Before recycling any baggies, be sure they are clean and dry. Baggies can be reused several times if they are washed in warm soapy water and dried.
Baggies were invented in 1968 by a team of engineers with Dow Chemical Co. looking for a way to keep food fresh. However, it was the revolutionary plastic zipper, originally called Flexigrip, invented in 1951, that changed the packaging of food products to zipper bags now known as baggies. The downside of Ziplock baggies and all baggies is that they are made of plastic, which is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. As they age, baggies break down into inorganic matter and microplastics and can leach chemicals into the environment. According to theguardian.com, most plastic baggies contain toxic PFAS or “forever chemicals.” PFAS are added to the baggies to prevent food from sticking to them and to prevent plastics from sticking to equipment during manufacturing. Fortunately, there are now non-toxic, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternatives available for plastic baggies. This includes Stasher Silicone food bags, Beeswax sandwich bags, plant-based food wraps, If You Care Sandwich bags, and Cleanomic baggies. Also stainless-steel sandwich boxes are available with no plastic in them at all. All of these are eco-friendly, plastic free and reusable. Most items can be purchased at Earthhero.com.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What are ecosystems? Curious
Dear Curious,
According to The Australian Museum, an ecosystem includes all living things, whether plants, animals or organisms, and whether marine, aquatic or land-based. They interact with each other and with their non-living environments: weather, earth, sun, water, climate, and atmosphere. Ecosystems determine the health of the entire Earth system and are the foundation of the Biosphere, which is made up of all the parts of the Earth where life exists. Ecosystems come in all sizes and can be as large as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or as small as a tiny organism, such as bacteria that are an important part of decomposition. This explanation only scratches the surface of ecosystems, and there are many websites available. For a more detailed explanation of ecosystems, see https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ecosystem/.
Interesting Information: The Arctic Ocean is the shallowest ocean in the world and it’s also the smallest. With an average depth of just over two miles, the Arctic Ocean is home to the unique marine life that thrives beneath its icy surface.
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.
