The Shadow
Dear Recycle Lady,
I purchased a new pair of shoes and each of the new shoes has what appears to be a pressed shoe-shaped form in the toe of both shoes. Is this shoe-shaped form recyclable?
Likes New Shoes
Dear Likes New Shoes,
Yes, your shoe-shaped form made of pressed cardboard is recyclable. In fact, cardboard is one of the most recyclable materials that we have.
There are, however, a few cardboards that are not recyclable. For example, waxed cardboard, not to be confused with glossy finished cardboard, is one of the biggest of the nonrecyclable cardboards. Milk cartons and juice containers have a waxed layer that keeps the cartons from leaking but also prevents them from being recycled. Cardboards with food grease on it, for example pizza boxes, are not recyclable either as the food grease is a contaminant. Another kind of nonrecyclable cardboard is chipboard, also known as particle board. Chipboard is used for various applications, including furniture and cabinets. Since cardboard is recycled using water (pulping) to break down the cardboard, the stiff, non-bendable particle board can’t be broken down this way. If your cardboard has oil-based paint on it, it may not be recyclable either as oil paint is a contaminant. Glossy cardboard can sometime be a challenging to recycle as it has a shiny finish made from plastic or wax. If there is a heavy coat of either wax or plastic, the cardboard will not recycle.
Dear Recycle Lady,
How is the new plastic that has been created going to be any better for our environment than the plastic that is now being used? Need Clarification
Dear Need Clarification,
Scientists have long been looking for a biodegradable plastic.
The RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science in Japan has created a new plastic that is biodegradable and dissolves in seawater in a matter of hours and 10 days in soil. Takuzo Aida, who led the research, said that “with this new material, we have created a new family of plastics that are strong, stable, and recyclable that can serve multiple functions and, importantly, they do not generate microplastics.”
This is a big step in ending plastic pollution and supporting a sustainable environment.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Yesterday I came across the word pre-cycling in a magazine article. What is pre-cycling?
Wondering
Dear Wondering,
According to https://recyclingsimplified.com, pre-cycling is about reducing waste. It is sometimes called a low-waste lifestyle as it is about making initial choices that will minimize waste or maximize reusable or recyclable materials. For example, it is about choosing items that are unpackaged, have less packaging or have packaging that is recyclable. It is doing simple things, like taking a reusable bottle or bag with you, buying only what you need, or using rags instead of paper towels for cleaning. If you are trying to decide between a plastic, paper or cardboard container, paper and cardboard containers are the best option.
Ultimately, pre-recycling is making choices that reduce consumer waste and have the smallest possible impact on the environment.
Interesting Info: According to The Week Junior, “The Constitutional Court of Ecuador has ruled that marine ecosystems on the country’s coast have legal rights.”
Whales, sharks, dolphins, manta rays and sea turtles all live in the Pacific Ocean of the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador.
In 2008, Ecuador was the first country to declare that nature had legal rights; that oceans and seas are essential for “the heathy functioning of the planet.” Both New Zealand and Bolivia have also passed similar laws that protect natural environments by giving them legal rights.
Have questions about recycling or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests recyclelady7@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
