The Shadow
Dear Recycle Lady,
I have a plastic bottle with a label that covers the entire bottle. There is a small note on the label that says, “Remove Label to Recycle Bottle.” How do I remove the label?
Puzzled
Dear Puzzled,
Plastic bottles have different types of labels; some are paper, and some are plastic. If the label is paper, it does not need to be removed as the heat during the recycling process will burn it away. If the plastic bottles have plastic labels that are the same kind of plastic, the labels do not need to be removed, as they are both recyclable.
The label on your bottle indicates that the bottle has a plastic label that is a different type of plastic than the plastic of the bottle. Thus, the label must be removed, as it will become a contaminant in the recycling process.
To remove the label, simply insert a sharp pointed knife (away from you for safety!) in the seam where the label has been glued on and make a cut in the label. It doesn’t require a very large cut, as the plastic label will then pull off in strips. Some labels can be easily cut on the entire width of the label; others are more difficult. Plastic bottles with labels that cover the entire bottle generally have the “remove the label before recycling” note, as these large labels may also affect the optical scanners’ sorting technologies.
Incidentally, the small ring around the top of most plastic bottles does not need to be removed.
Dear Recycle Lady,
One of my prescriptions includes directions in the package that are folded lengthwise several times and then folded in the opposite direction three times. The folded directions are then sealed together with three pieces of paper tape. Must that seal be broken and the paper unfolded before putting it in the recycle bin for office paper? Want to Recycle Correctly
Dear Want to Recycle Correctly,
You do not need to remove the seal from the folded paper, and the folded paper instructions do not need to be opened before recycling it. Since this is plain paper with directions, it probably is office paper. Just add it with the paper on its way to be recycled.
Dear Recycle Lady,
I recently replaced my lawnmower battery. Will my old lawnmower battery recycle?
Lawn Caretaker
Dear Lawn Caretaker,
The Recycling Center accepts, and will pay for, lawn mower batteries, car batteries or cordless batteries regardless of whether they will charge or not. In fact, they accept any large rechargeable battery, but not the small AA, AAA, C or D batteries. I am sorry to say, alkaline batteries of any kind are also not accepted.
According to information from battery manufacturers, it is now safe to put them in the landfill. When you take your battery to the Recycle Center, go to the door for recycling aluminum cans, push the button and a staff member will come to assist you.
Interesting Information: Four-eyed fish don’t really have four eyes—their two eyes are just split to see above and below water at the same time. So cool! (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.
