Recycle Lady: Patagonia, Dog Waste Bags and Downcycling

Dear Recycle Lady,

Here’s one additional item on the subject of textile waste that you wrote about last week. The clothing brand Patagonia has a campaign for returning your “eligible pre-loved gently used” Patagonia gear for credit; apparently, they re-sell it or “help it find a new home — not the landfill.” They are a very eco-conscious clothing/outdoor gear company, and maybe other companies might be doing this also? Let’s Avoid Waste

Dear Let’s Avoid Waste,

Thanks for the information on the many diverse online options for buying, selling or donating used clothing. These online options offer many choices that are not available locally. Just Google used clothing websites to see the many opportunities. There are several ways used clothing can be donated locally: The Americana Shop on the corner of Foster and Court streets in Lewisburg, Goodwill located in the Red Oaks Shopping Center at the opposite end of the shopping center from Kroger, off 219 South in Fairlea, The Caldwell Thrift Store in Caldwell on the corner of Route U.S. 60 and WV 63, and Greenbrier Better Living located on Route 219 in Ronceverte. As you get out your fall clothes and find ones you no longer want, consider the possibilities and choose the one that suits you best. Then, sit back and enjoy all those organized closets and drawers and celebrate a job well done.

Dear Recycle Lady,

When walking my dog, I have been using the black plastic dog waste bags provided by the city. Are there any environmentally friendly alternatives for these plastic bags? Dog Walker

Dear Dog Walker,

Great question. Believe it or not, 500 million plastic dog waste bags are used globally every year, according to fto.com . What to do with the 10.6 million tons of dog waste produced by America’s 83 million pet dogs every year is not an idle question. One alternative to the black plastic doggie bags is to reuse grocery bags or the plastic sleeves that newspapers come in. Although these are good options for re-using plastic, these bags are not biodegradable and would otherwise be recyclable. There are now several brands of 100% biodegradable doggie waste bags available that are made from corn and plant starches. One brand, Bagups, is made by a veteran-owned company, Fast Bags Corporation. They hire veterans and people with disabilities to make biodegradable dog waste bags and trash bags. Another brand, EarthRated, makes unscented doggie waste bags from 65% certified post-consumer recycled plastic. So, the best environmentally friendly alternative is to use one of the 100% biodegradable doggie waste bags. Your neighbors will appreciate your pickup and so will the environment.

Dear Recycle Lady,

I’m not sure I agree with your statement on the downcycling concept. Last week you said “Most recycling is downcycling or making a lower grade version of the same product” – and I suppose technically that is accurate. What happens in most cases, I think, is the recycled material is combined with virgin materials thereby producing the same grade product by using less virgin materials. Avid Reader

Dear Avid Reader,

I think we are both right. The website, www.sigmaearth.com , says that downcycling gives new life to old stuff. Newspapers and cardboard can be downcycled into materials for packaging, tissue boxes and cereal boxes. Due to the loss of fiber strength during recycling, some recycled paper is downcycled into lower-grade products. Landscaping, playgrounds and sports fields may be made with rubber mulch from downcycled scrap tires. Wikipedia says that “Downcycling can help to keep materials in use, reduce consumption of raw materials and avoid the energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and water pollution of primary production and resource extraction.” Regardless of how it is defined, downcycling is good for the environment.

Good News : Four red wolf pups were born at the Trevor Zoo in Millbrook, New York this summer. Every birth makes a difference, as only about 20 of these critically endangered wolves remain in the wild.

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.

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