Dear Recycle Lady,
I just heard that topping off the gas tank when putting in gas is bad for the environment. How can that be true? I thought added gas meant added mileage.
Doubting Thomas
Dear Doubting Thomas,
Topping off the gas tank is bad not only for the environment, it is also bad for your car and you. According to John Ibbotson, Consumer Reports’ chief mechanic, “Fuel systems have become more sophisticated over time to keep up with increasingly strict emission laws.” That extra bit of fuel could damage the Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) system that helps reduce hydrocarbon emissions by about 95 percent during refueling” and could ruin the engine that would be expensive to repair. Not only is topping off harmful to the fuel system, it is also harmful to humans as gasoline fumes are toxic. They can cause both respiratory and neurological problems. According to https://www.healthline.com/, gasoline exposure can cause problems with your lungs, mouth, and stomach. It can get gasoline on your hands or clothing and burn your skin depending on the length of time and amount of exposure. Gasoline fumes are also toxic to the ozone layer as they release air pollutants that are toxic, flammable, and carcinogenic. Additionally, when you hear the gas pump click indicating the tank is full, some of the gas you pump after that is going into the hose for the next customer, not in your gas tank. Thus, topping off actually costs you money! For additional information check out: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-maintenance/should-you-top-off-your-cars-gas-tank-a1176503026/
Dear Recycle Lady,
Today I washed a container and its top to prepare it for recycling. The bottom of the container had a “1” inside the recycle triangle, so I knew it was recyclable. However, I could not find any number or recycle symbol for the top part. If the bottom of a container is recyclable, does that mean that the top of the container is also recyclable?
Puzzled
Dear Puzzled,
Plastics with a recycle triangle that have a “1” or a “2” inside the recycle symbol may or may not be recyclable at your recycling center. Our local Greenbrier Recycling Center only accepts #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs. Other #1 and #2 containers may be recyclable at larger facilities. Before adding any container to a recycling bin, be sure to check both the top and bottom as they may be made of different types of plastic. Thanks for washing out your container. It is extremely important that all recycled items are clean and dry. Unclean items put in a recycle bin can contaminate an entire load of recycle items resulting in a load of recyclables that must be discarded.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Last week you said that tree-corridors exist in fragmented forests. My understanding is that there can also be corridors that connect any isolated green spaces.
Also Loves Trees
Dear Also Loves Trees,
Thanks for writing. You are correct in saying that corridors can connect any isolated spaces. However, these corridors are more commonly called green corridors. Green corridors are strategically planned networks that connect any green spaces or perhaps are links in landscaping. They may also be called biodiversity or ecological corridors which are corridors designed to protect the biological diversity of large portions of land. Pathways may be found in cities, roads, crops or logging activities as they help mitigate urban development’s impact on the environment. Corridors of all kinds serve as pathways for wildlife and allow the free movement of animals, facilitate seed dispersal and expand vegetation cover.
Interesting Info: Turtles have existed for about 230 million years. Today there are about 330 different species of turtles ranging from those that will fit in the palm of your hand to ones that weigh up to 1,800 pounds!
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to [email protected]. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.