Recycle Lady: Printers, Container Lids and More

Dear Recycle Lady,

I’m a frequent visitor to the Ronceverte Recycle Center, and I thank you for all you recycle. Is there somewhere local to take #5 plastic and glass? Frequent Visitor

Dear Frequent Visitor,

Thanks for bringing recyclables to the Recycle Center often. You are much appreciated.

Unfortunately, we are unable to recycle either #5 plastic or glass. According to https://greenfieldeg.comm # 5 plastic, which is made from polypropylene, is technically recyclable, but “processes and availability of recycling facilities vary significantly,” and there are very few facilities that can process it.

Greenworks in Lewisburg recycles a small amount of glass, but there is a charge for the service. Although glass is infinitely recyclable, it is no longer recycled as much as it was in the 1980s. There are several reasons for this decline. First of all, glass is heavy, thus expensive to transport, and glass can also be hazardous to recycle, as broken glass is dangerous for workers. It can also damage machines during processing, thus increasing processing costs. Whole and broken glass are difficult to sort, and most manufacturers require that glass be sorted by color. Also, there are several kinds of glass, which makes sorting more difficult. For example, drinking glasses and windows are both made of glass, but they have different chemical properties and melt at different temperatures, so they must be separated from other kinds of glass. For single-stream recycling systems, glass is a contaminant as it damages paper and cardboard. Besides all the problems with recycling, there is now less demand for glass as it has been replaced by aluminum and plastic.

According to Recycle Across America, “More than 28 billion glass bottles and jars end up in landfills every year — that is the equivalent of filling up two Empire State Buildings every three weeks.” For further information about recycling glass, go to the Glass Recycling Foundation website https://glassrecycles.squarespace.com for an Interactive Glass Recycling Map.

Dear Recycle Lady,

I have an old inkjet printer that I’m trying to dispose of responsibly. Does the Greenbrier County Recycling Center accept electronic waste or have any recommendations for who might recycle it? Responsible Recycler

Dear Responsible Recycler,

Your old inkjet printer is recyclable at the Recycling Center. They also accept all electronic waste and everything with a cord except for TVs and old TV computer monitors. There is a yellow bin on the side porch just below the sign that says Aluminum Cans. Your printer and electronic waste can be left there.

Dear Recycle Lady,

I buy nuts and dried fruits in clear plastic containers marked 1/PETE. The snap-on covers are not marked with a number but appear to be the same material as the containers. Can the covers be recycled with the containers? Hopeful

Dear Hopeful,

Unfortunately, neither your plastic containers, often called clam shells, nor their snap-on covers are recyclable locally, as the Greenbrier Recycling Center recycles only #1 PETE plastic bottles and jugs. Currently, there is very little market for #1 plastic containers as they are costly to sort, and they totally burn up in the temperatures at which other #1 plastics are processed.

Bad News: Rising ocean temperatures are affecting over 80% of the world’s coral reefs. The warmer water causes mass bleaching of the coral. This stresses the coral and the tiny organism that provide color and nutrients are lost.

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.