Also, if there is a paper label solidly glued to a plastic container, will that “contaminate” the recyclables stream, or will the paper be somehow separated out in the sorting process?

Third question: In our household we are still in the habit of removing the paper labels from all of our soup (etc.) cans before putting them in our recycling bucket. And then the labels get put into a paper grocery bag along with cereal boxes, junk mail and other recyclable paper, which, when full, goes out in the recycling bucket along with the cans and bottles, etc. Is this practice helpful to the current single-stream sorting process, or just a waste of time on our parts? Thanks! — A humble steward of the earth.

ANSWER: Sun Spots contacted Rob Stalford, superintendent of solid waste at the Department of Public Works in Lewiston. He offered the following information in response to your questions.

1) The plastic or metal lids of glass and plastic containers can and will be recycled as “Single Sort” recyclable waste.

2) The paper labels which are firmly attached to these containers WILL NOT contaminate the recycling process.

3) If you choose to remove the paper labels from containers (for example, the paper label on a can of soup) and place that with “mixed paper” to be recycled, that is fine. The paper label will be recycled.

As a “rule of thumb,” if in doubt, recycle the waste item in question. If the item can’t be recycled as part of the Single Stream recycling program, it will be properly disposed as trash. The “Single Sort” program is intended to make separating recyclable waste material from other household trash simple.

If you have additional questions, you can call Rob at 207-513-3147.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Just wanted to take a moment to send out a huge thanks to the people who snowmobile and maintain the trails that run down Spring Road in Auburn. I imagine this is part of one of the local snowmobile clubs and done on a volunteer basis. It allows walkers, crosscountry skiers, and snowshoers access to some amazing trails. I was out today skiing with my dog – which you can’t do at regular crosscountry ski areas – and we didn’t see another person except for a porcupine in a tree near the lake and some fox footprints. So thank you to those who maintain these trails – it’s greatly appreciated! — No Name, No Town.

RESPONSE: Sun Spots knows that there are other crosscountry ski trails that allow dogs on the trails. These include Bethel Nordic Ski Center at The Bethel Inn, Carter’s XC Ski Center in Bethel, Five Fields Farm in Bridgton, and others. Maybe our readers can supply additional trails that allow dogs. Happy trails!

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