Recycle Lady: Plant Based Cleaners, Pill Disposal and Recycling Bins

Dear Recycle Lady,

Years ago, when the recycling center was in Fairlea, a woman showed me that when people just toss their recyclables a short distance into the recycling bins, the items pile up in the center of the bin and don’t go out into its corners. She showed me how to throw my items into the back area of the bin and into its corners so that the recycling bin fills up properly. I read your column every week. Keep up the good work. Dutiful Recycler

Dear Dutiful Recycler,

You are absolutely correct; this is excellent advice. The Center’s recycle bins have limited space, so it is important to use all areas of the bins, not just the front. Throwing items into the back area and into the corners of the bins provides extra space for incoming recyclables. The Recycle Center personnel service the bins 365 days a year in order to prevent the overflow of recyclables in the bins and to be available to answers questions. Thanks for writing and calling this information to the attention of our readers.

Dear Recycle Lady,

What are plant-based cleaners? Cleaner-Upper

Dear Cleaner-Upper,

Good question. Plant-based cleaners are cleaners made with environmentally friendly ingredients. Natural ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda have excellent antibacterial, degreasing, and stain removing properties. Used properly, they can be just as effective as chemical cleaners, however, they work more slowly so let them sit a while before removing them. There are several commercial cleaners that are plant-based. Look for the EPA Safer Choice label or USDA BioPreferred certified. These products must have a significant part of their ingredients to be plant-based. Tide PurClean ingredients are 75% plant-based and Clorox Ecoclean is made with 99% plant-based cleaning ingredients. Seventh Generation has many plant-based cleaning products, as does Mr. Clean. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also approves natural cleaners with ingredients like thymol (from the oil of thyme), including Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes and Cleaners.

Dear Recycle Lady,

Last week you mentioned that unused prescription pills can be placed in a disposal box at the Greenbrier County Court House to be disposed of safely. This is a great service to the community and the environment, however, please caution your readers that the Court House doesn’t accept prescription pills in their original bottles. Before putting pills in the Court House disposal box, they must be taken out of the bottle, placed in a plastic bag, and sealed. Environmentalist

Dear Environmentalist,

Thanks for the information about the disposal of prescription pills at the Greenbrier County Court House. I am sure you have saved many persons a trip home for a plastic bag.

Kudos to Lewisburg Elementary School Girl Scout Troop 31919. They have completed their collection of 1,000 pounds of plastic film and ordered their bench! Special thanks to Jim’s Drive on Route 60 and Martin & Jones, Inc. in Ronceverte that supported the Girl Scouts by giving them huge amounts of plastic film that their products come in. Many thanks also to all the local citizens that have kept the recycle bins full. The Elementary Scouts had so much fun with their collection that the older Girl Scouts want to join in the fun. They have now registered to continue the collection and will be emptying the collection boxes at Amy’s, Lewisburg Methodist Church, St. James Episcopal Church, and The Recycling Center. The Lewisburg Elementary School collection sites are closed for the summer while school is out.

Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests Recyclelady7@gmail.com . Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.

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