The German study you cite doesn't really look into the recycling and composting process and how it effects thermal paper. It primarily focuses on how BPA is in toilet paper and , and toilet paper gets in the sewer, therefore getting into the ecosystem.

It deserves further looking into. For now, I'm going to keep recycling my receipts, and consider installing a bidet in my bathroom.

You're jumping to a few conclusions, and I'm guessing you've seen Penn & Teller's hilarious "Bull$hit" episode on recycling.

I love their bit about "recycling saves trees the same way not eating potatoes saves potatoes." However, there are environmental costs to doing everything, including tree farming. And how many more tree farms or virgin forests would we need to tap into if we didn't recycle paper? A lot!

I agree that recycling doesn't work everywhere, mainly, due to transportation costs associated with transferring the waste to a recycling facility. (By the way, imagine the cost of shipping our garbage to that 35-mile wide imaginary landfill, let alone the process and cost of siting it.)

I do agree that making some products from recycled material probably does create a larger footprint than landfilling them, at least now, using today's technologies.

However, in Seattle, recycling works, primarily because we have state of the art recycling and composting facilities a stone's throw away from here, and our landfill is the next state away, and we're GOOD AT IT. Seattle homeowners recycle nearly 70% of their waste!

We're also a port and rail city that allows us to easily ship our recyclables to markets all over the world. It's cost affordable and efficient. Economically, recycled aluminum, tin, paper, cardboard and PET plastic are highly valued in the recycling markets around the world.

Recycling in Seattle is a good thing to do, but it's not the best thing you can do, solid waste-wise. The best thing to do is to shop local, shop for recycled-content or previously used products, and shop smart, not buying single-use, short-life products that you have to recycle or throw away in the first place.

Okey dokey. Better recycle your receipts, then, or better yet, not ask for one.

Our composting facility "cooks" off chemicals in the process, but unless you use receipts like you would use shredded paper to line your yard waste cart, you might as well just recycle them.

You can check out the high-tech composting process at www.cgcompost.com

That stuff loses it's moisture fast, and that's where all the weight is at. Plus, I'm guessing alot of folks do most of their yard waste work about 4 times a year.

Actually, SPU gives you more service now than it used to. In 2008, SPU collected up to 4 units of yard waste every other week (8 units a month). Now, it collects up to 3 units weekly (12 units a month.)

Hmm. Good question. They may be using the bin for "all recyclables" or just haven't picked it up yet. Talk to your building manager.

For #5, the reason why plastic bags that had food in them (like produce bags, or bread bags) aren't allowed is that they can often develop mold and mildew from the crumbs and moisture, which ruins the plastic.

The spike labels go in the garbage, unless you know of a way to reuse them.