When in doubt, give a shout: stainless steel pot?

If you’re not sure whether something goes in the blue bin, snap a pic of yourself with the questionable item (yes, we want to see you, too). We’ll check in with a recycling expert and run the answer in the papers – so we can keep learning together.

A question from Brenda Hughes of Matamoras, Pa. “We have an all metal stainless steel pot that warped on the bottom and is no good. Can we recycle it?”

No, says Ermin Siljkovic, recycling coordinator at the Orange County, NY Department of Public Works. “Orange County only accepts clean and empty aluminum foil and metal cans in its Single Stream Recycling,” said Siljkovic. “Pots, pans and any other metal cookware items would go to the scrap metal yard. Housewares with plastic handles, tempered glass or other non-metal components would render these items as refuse.”

“We get them all the time,” said Joseph Pitingaro of the County Metal Yard in New Hampton, NY, of pots and pans. The metal yard pays between 20 to 30 cents per pound for “clean” or unalloyed stainless steel. And if you’re looking for secondhand cookware or stainless steel tables, “we get a lot of stuff from restaurants” that’s for resale, he added.

Keep in mind, recycling rules are infamous for their hyperlocal variation, so it’s a good idea to check with your town.

Next up, your question. Send your question and selfie to becca.tucker@strausnews.com, subject line “recycle?” along with your name and town.