Dear Recycle Lady,
Inside one of the boxes containing a prescription were many sheets of directions on white paper folded into very tight folds and glued together in one place. Does this tightly folded paper need to be unfolded before recycling it? Just Wondering
Dear Just Wondering,
Yes, the paper should be unfolded to help reduce the volume of the paper and to make it easier to transport. It also eliminates any contaminants that might have been inside the folds. Flattening the paper helps with sorting and improves the processing in the recycling facility. Thanks for taking the time to unfold the directions and remove any glue that might have been used to hold the paper tightly folded. The Recycling staff appreciates you!
Dear Recycle Lady,
I found some old, rusty pieces of scrap metal in the barn this morning and I don’t know what to do with them. Can they be recycled? Do I need to clean them up? Cleaning up the Barn
Dear Cleaning up the Barn,
Old rusty pieces of scrap metal of any size and any condition are recyclable at the Recycling Center.
Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen from water or moisture and produces iron oxide. It is only on steel cans or steel objects. Aluminum cans don’t contain iron and will never rust, regardless of how long they are left in water. Stainless steel is extremely resistant to rust.
Since steel is the primary metal in engineering, rusty metal is likely to be found on many different objects around the house or barn. Nails, screws, auto parts, and furniture are only a few of the places where rust can be found.
The Recycling Center accepts both auto and furniture parts but not nails and screws. Those can be taken to Boggs Scrap Metal Yard in Caldwell.
While rust can be removed from metal using household products like lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar, and steel wool, or you can purchase chemicals to remove rust, it is not necessary.
To prevent rust, metals can be coated ahead of time with several effective coatings. Epoxy Coatings provide a strong barrier against moisture as does a coating of oil, or commercially available rust converters. A coating of zinc protects metal from corrosion in a process called galvanization. There is also a dry powder that will create a hard finish resistant to rust after being cured under heat.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What is the difference between a clear plastic jug and a white plastic jug? What’s the Difference?
Dear What’s the Difference,
The primary difference between clear plastic jugs and white plastic jugs is their light-blocking properties. Clear plastic jugs are translucent or transparent and their content is highly visible; while white jugs are opaque plastic containers that don’t allow any light to pass through. Made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) #2 plastic, some customers prefer white plastic jugs for milk because of their light-blocking property. Blocking UV light helps maintain the milk’s freshness and prevents spoilage. Clear plastic jugs are made with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or #1 plastics and are often preferred for their visibility. Both #1 plastics and #2 plastics are recyclable.
Good News: A Cougar raising kittens was seen for the first time in 100 years in Minnesota. Cougars were believed to be extinct, but this sighting suggests that Cougars are breeding there again.
Bad News: A wildfire in Australia destroyed 70% of the Pink Cockatoos’ core habitat. Since most of the cypress pines were lost, artificial hollows are being built for their use.
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to: [email protected]. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
