The Shadow
Dear Recycle Lady,
I have been tearing off the corner of stapled papers before I put them in recycling. Is it possible to recycle paper with staples in it?
Staple Remover
Dear Staple Remover,
Yes, paper can be recycled with staples left in it. Ordinary staples are made from 100% steel, which makes them easily recycled. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Paper mills that process recovered paper are set up to remove common contaminants such as staples and paper clips from the pulped paper.” Therefore, it is not necessary to remove staples before recycling paper.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Why must recyclables such as plastic bottles, steel cans, aluminum cans and cardboard be clean and dry when they are recycled? Isn’t there equipment that cleans everything before bailing?
To Wash or Not To Wash
Dear To Wash or Not To Wash,
There is one BIG reason for putting only clean and dry items in the recycling bins: contamination. It only takes one dirty item to contaminate an entire load of acceptable recyclables. The Recycling Center does not have the equipment to clean recyclables, so they must depend on the recyclers to bring items clean and dry. Companies that use recyclables to make new products have been known to toss an entire load of recyclables into the trash when finding a single contaminated piece.
Another type of contamination, called recycling contamination, occurs when a recyclable is tossed into the wrong bin. For example, a plastic bottle (even though clean and dry) thrown in with paper could contaminate the entire load of paper.
In 2018, 800,000 tons of recyclables were rejected by one of the largest users of recyclables because they were contaminated. They all ended up in a landfill and were of no value to anyone.
Dear Recycle Lady,
It’s time to put fall decorations away, including pumpkins. What can I do with my pumpkins besides put them in the trash?
Decorator
Dear Decorator,
Used or cut pumpkins can be composted and will add green material to your compost. Before putting them in the compost pile, smash or chop up your pumpkins into smaller pieces so they will compost faster.
Roasted pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack for both humans and birds as they are high in protein, fiber and healthy fats. See www.tasteofhome.com/article/roast-pumpkin-seeds/ for step-by-step instructions for roasting pumpkin seeds. Raw, dried or slightly roasted pumpkin seeds can be put in a dish, feeder or mixed with suet for a healthy bird snack that gives birds both nutrients and energy. Be sure there is no salt, seasoning, flavoring or candy on the seeds as these are not healthy for birds.
The website, https://www.beakybites.co.uk/blog/can-birds-eat-pumpkin-seeds-the-best-way-to-feed-them, has good ideas for preparing pumpkin seeds for birds. Deer and other wildlife also like pumpkins. Just put them out in a field or lightly forested area. One word of caution: break open your pumpkins so a hungry deer won’t get its head stuck inside the pumpkin! Feeding humans, deer, or birds with used pumpkin seeds is so much better than sending them to the landfill.
Pumpkins taken to the landfill emit a potent greenhouse gas called methane, which generates carbon dioxide (CO2) and contributes to climate change. According to the World Economic Forum, landfills around the country receive about 900,000 tons (1,800,000,000 pounds!) of pumpkins each fall.
Interesting Information: Did you know that the name Jack-O’-lantern was used in the 1600s as the name for lantern-carrying night watchmen? At that time, “Jack” was a name used for a man whose name was not known, and since he was carrying a lantern, he was called Jack-O’-lantern. According to Merriam-Webster, by the 1800s, Jack O’lantern meant “a carved pumpkin used as a lantern.” The name may have come from ancient rituals or folk tales about lantern-carrying spirits. It also may have come from young pranksters who carved scary faces into pumpkins.
Have questions about recycling or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to recyclelady@greenbrier-swa.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
