Comments on: Reporter's Notes: Is This Recyclable? http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/ Explore science, nature and environment stories from Northern California and beyond with KQED’s multimedia series Thu, 24 May 2012 05:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: lauraq http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/#comment-12158 lauraq Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:23:24 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3397#comment-12158 I like to use the liners from dry cereal boxes. I cut them into squares and use them to separate sliced and then frozen bagels or English muffins or meat/fish patties. Their light waxy-like coating holds up better than waxed paper (which I used to use). They even clean up fine for re-use again and again. I like to use the liners from dry cereal boxes. I cut them into squares and use them to separate sliced and then frozen bagels or English muffins or meat/fish patties. Their light waxy-like coating holds up better than waxed paper (which I used to use). They even clean up fine for re-use again and again.

]]> By: Andy Renteria http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/#comment-12159 Andy Renteria Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:19:31 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3397#comment-12159 Thanks for the interesting report. My co-worker says that damp used paper towels are not recyclable because the paper fibers are too short. Is he right? Thanks for the interesting report. My co-worker says that damp used paper towels are not recyclable because the paper fibers are too short. Is he right?

]]> By: Sean Davison http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/#comment-12162 Sean Davison Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:53:02 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3397#comment-12162 All recyclable items should be clean, empty and preferably dry to promote the highest and best use of these resources. If that full wine bottle breaks you will have wet and soiled paper, so drain it and then place in the recycle (that cork goes in the trash or find a local drop off or reuse for it...recorkamerica.com). Think of that plastic bag inside your cereal box as two separate materials. That paper, metal, or plastic item you recycle will be baled by type, so it is best to keep different materials separated (check with your local recycling collector to see if plastic bags are ok to recycle in your recycle bin or if it is trash. In SF, plastic bags are trash or you can take back clean plastic bags to your supermarket for recycling.) Every city is different, be proactive and get the correct recycling/composting information for your neighborhood. All recyclable items should be clean, empty and preferably dry to promote the highest and best use of these resources. If that full wine bottle breaks you will have wet and soiled paper, so drain it and then place in the recycle (that cork goes in the trash or find a local drop off or reuse for it…recorkamerica.com). Think of that plastic bag inside your cereal box as two separate materials. That paper, metal, or plastic item you recycle will be baled by type, so it is best to keep different materials separated (check with your local recycling collector to see if plastic bags are ok to recycle in your recycle bin or if it is trash. In SF, plastic bags are trash or you can take back clean plastic bags to your supermarket for recycling.)

Every city is different, be proactive and get the correct recycling/composting information for your neighborhood.

]]> By: Charlie Bichon http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/#comment-12161 Charlie Bichon Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:22:01 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3397#comment-12161 Well I thought I was a good recycler. Here in Richmond (i live in a condo complex, with a recycling center provided by Richmond Sanitary Service)They tell us to just put everything (plastics, paper, metal) into one single pickup bin. I wonder if they are sophisticated enough at their central facility to do all the plastic, multi material sorting for us? CB Well I thought I was a good recycler. Here in Richmond (i live in a condo complex, with a recycling center provided by Richmond Sanitary Service)They tell us to just put everything (plastics, paper, metal) into one single pickup bin. I wonder if they are sophisticated enough at their central facility to do all the plastic, multi material sorting for us?

CB

]]> By: Margaret http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/#comment-12157 Margaret Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:28:55 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3397#comment-12157 Hi Amy, Thanks for the good info. I've always wondered about the plastic liners in cereal boxes. Can those be recycled or should they be dumped? Thanks! Hi Amy,
Thanks for the good info. I've always wondered about the plastic liners in cereal boxes. Can those be recycled or should they be dumped?
Thanks!

]]> By: Amy Standen http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/#comment-12156 Amy Standen Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:54:32 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3397#comment-12156 Hi William, Hi Mary: Thanks for writing, and for raising some important points. -- Full, or partially-full bottles can pose problems at recycling facilities when they leak onto other recyclables (like paper, which is often trashed if it's covered in muck). Best bet is to empty them out. (And apologies for the false mention: we had a half empty detergent bottle in an earlier version of the slide show.) Mary, I'm not sure exactly what the facility would do with an unopened wine bottle, but it seems possible it would be trashed. If you call and ask, let us know what you find out! -- You're right, William. I should have been less San Francisco-centric with my bin descriptions. Check back a little later to see the fix, above. Best, Amy Hi William, Hi Mary:
Thanks for writing, and for raising some important points.

– Full, or partially-full bottles can pose problems at recycling facilities when they leak onto other recyclables (like paper, which is often trashed if it's covered in muck). Best bet is to empty them out. (And apologies for the false mention: we had a half empty detergent bottle in an earlier version of the slide show.)

Mary, I'm not sure exactly what the facility would do with an unopened wine bottle, but it seems possible it would be trashed. If you call and ask, let us know what you find out!

– You're right, William. I should have been less San Francisco-centric with my bin descriptions. Check back a little later to see the fix, above.

Best,
Amy

]]> By: William http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/#comment-12155 William Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:16:57 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3397#comment-12155 First, what do you do with "a half-empty detergent bottle"? I am curious since you mentioned it both on the radio spot (which is why I came here) and the blog. Second, I had to read the first two paragraphs of the blog three-times to figure out what goes where. Some of us don't have blue bins or mini discounted black bins. (I have gray and brown). First, what do you do with "a half-empty detergent bottle"? I am curious since you mentioned it both on the radio spot (which is why I came here) and the blog.

Second, I had to read the first two paragraphs of the blog three-times to figure out what goes where. Some of us don't have blue bins or mini discounted black bins. (I have gray and brown).

]]> By: Mary Glen http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/28/reporters-notes-is-this-recyclable/#comment-12160 Mary Glen Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:30:27 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3397#comment-12160 What about full wine bottles? Does the fact that they are full if you put them in the recycling bin cause issues when being recycled down the line? Should I empty them first? (You may wonder why I'm throwing out full wine bottles.... they are spoilt due to damp storage which has got into the corks...) What about full wine bottles? Does the fact that they are full if you put them in the recycling bin cause issues when being recycled down the line? Should I empty them first? (You may wonder why I'm throwing out full wine bottles…. they are spoilt due to damp storage which has got into the corks…)

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