Recycle Lady: Garbage Cans and Banana Peels

Dear Recycle Lady,

My family eats lots of bananas. Is there any way to reuse the banana peels? Healthy Eater

Dear Healthy Eater,

You are not alone in wanting to reuse your banana peels.

According to a 2013 study, about 40 million tons of banana peels are disposed of or go unused each year worldwide. However, banana peels do have a second life. For example, banana peels can be used to polish leather by rubbing the inside of the peel against the outer side of the leather, then buffing with a soft cloth. Peels can also be used to fertilize your plants. For directions to make Banana Water, see marthastewart.com/banana-water-for-plants-8687092.

A 2011 article in Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology found that banana peels contain many healthy antioxidants like carotenoids, potassium, and fiber, so some people use the banana peels to enrich dishes and drinks. To help remove a splinter, place a banana peel on the splinter for 15 minutes to help draw it to the surface. Your compost pile will also benefit from banana peels as they are green material, biodegradable and contribute to rich, nutrient-dense soil. Just cut the peels into small sizes to help them decompose quickly.

See healthline.com for many more uses of banana peels.

Dear Recycle Lady,

When cleaning out my garage, I found several rusty steel cans. Are they still recyclable? Cleaner Garage

Dear Cleaner Garage,

Yes, rusted cans can be recycled. In fact, that is the best thing to do with any rusted metal.

When rusty cans are thrown in the trash, they end up in the landfill. Metal does not break down, so it takes decades, and sometimes centuries for it to break down into smaller pieces. Regardless of how small the pieces are, they are never absorbed by the soil as metal is neither biodegradable nor compostable. But they are harmful to the environment and, according to osha.gov, metals may build up in biological systems and become a significant health hazard.

Dear Recycle Lady,

I purchased a gallon of water in a #1 clear plastic bottle with a white plastic handle and a thin plastic label. The handle was very handy for carrying the bottle, but what about recycling the bottle? Does the plastic handle need to be removed before recycling? What about the thin plastic label? Plastic Recycler

Dear Plastic Recycler,

The white plastic handle on your bottle needs to be cut off and the cap removed before you put the bottle in the recycle bin for #1 plastics. However, the label can be left on. It will be removed during the recycling process. The bottle’s cap and handle are made of different kinds of plastic fibers, so they go in the trash.

Food for Thought: According to everythingbagsinc.com, Americans throw away enough office paper to build a 12-foot-high wall from Seattle to New York. Yet, each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 3,000 kilowatts of energy and 7,000 gallons of water. Before you think that is an impossible amount of recycled paper, consider that the Greenbrier Recycling Center shipped out 21.2 tons of office paper a couple months ago. Just think what local people who recycle office paper have saved in trees, oil, landfill space, energy and water! Hurrah for everyone who recycles.

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.