Dear Recycle Lady,
Several non-profit organizations are sending coins glued to their letters requesting donations. After removing the coins there are globs of glue left on the letter. Must this glue be removed before recycling the letter? Avid Recycler
Dear Avid Recycler,
Yes, the glue dots that hold these coins on the letter must be removed as the glue can cause problems for the paper shredding machine during the baling process. After the glue dots are removed, put the letter in with office paper or magazines. Most glue dots can be removed simply by rubbing your thumb over them, or they can be cut out.
Dear Recycle Lady,
What are orphan wells and why are they a concern? Learning About the Environment
Dear Learning,
Orphan wells are oil or gas wells that have been abandoned by the industries that extracted the oil or gas. These wells have no known legal owner responsible for their care or closure, and they are polluting the air with climate-warming methane and contaminating groundwater.
They also can leak benzene and other cancer-causing toxic chemicals into the air, surface water and ground water. They are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Wikipedia, the Interior Department has documented the existence of 130,000 orphaned wells nationwide and an EPA study estimated that there are as many as two to three million orphan wells nationwide. The nation’s first commercial oil well was drilled in Pennsylvania in 1859.
The Department of Environmental Protection has used old paper coal-mine and farm maps in their attempt to locate these orphan wells. They have been found in 27 states under schools, homes, retirement communities and convention centers.
Currently, drones are being launched in northwest Pennsylvania to hunt for these wells. The drones are outfitted with magnetic sensors that can detect metal underground, and special detectors to identify leaking methane emissions. However, according to planetizen.com, finding them is “just the beginning of a costly and urgent cleanup effort.”
Dear Recycle Lady,
Can extra-large colored plastic laundry detergent jugs be recycled? Laundry Lady
Dear Laundry Lady,
Yes, these jugs are recyclable. Be sure they are clean and dry before placing them in the bin with #2 colored plastics. Each year, 900 million jugs are used in the U.S. alone and unfortunately, only about 30% of plastic laundry detergent jugs are recycled—most end up in landfills contributing to long-term plastic waste. Have you tried the new laundry detergent sheets or tablets? They are eco-friendly, plastic-free, non-toxic and made with clean ingredients. They are also fragrance-free and you’ll have no heavy jugs to carry home from the store!
Good News: According to the Environmental Performance Index by Yale and Columbia Universities, Europe is leading the way in caring for the environment. Estonia ranks first out of 177 countries. The United States ranks 27th.
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests [email protected]. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
