Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Lisa asks…
Are social security numbers recycled upon deaths of their owners?
The Expert answers:
Actually, no.
In fact, the Social Security Administration maintains a “Death Master File” of every person who has been reported as dead and what their SSN was. (There are presently over 83 Million entries).
Even in this day of “Identity Theft”, once a person is reported to the Social Security Administration as deceased, they release not only the person’s name and Social Security number, but you can even order a copy of the person’s original SSN application form (SS-5) which contains a multitude of genological information.
The reason this information is given out so easily, is that once a person dies they are no longer protected by Identity Theft laws, and since this information is “government record”, it must be made available in accordance with the “Freedom of Information Act”. The “Death Master File” is used to prevent fraud so that no one can steal a dead person’s identity or take-out credit cards in the name of a dead person.
Which is why they NEVER reuse Social Security numbers…
….contrary to some people who like to pull answers out of their back ends without taking time to research them first.
The “Death Master File” is protected by the Social Security Administration, but a database has been created called the “Social Security Death Index” which is accessable through many geneology web sites if you are interested in researching information on a dead person. The database is searchable by many different criteria.
Susan asks…
What do the different numbers on recycled products and what do they mean?
The Expert answers:
They represent the different types of plastics, and their recycling potential. It will also help you in what types of plastics can be recycled. Those with a #1 are the most widely recycled products, whereas those with a #3 or #4 (for example) are usually the least recycled. The website i linked has an easy printable form that you can print off and place it near your recycle bins.
Mandy asks…
what do the little symbols with numbers in them at the bottom of plastic stuff mean?
My friend says that the number means the number of times it can be refilled, but I think it means what type of plastic it is. So… what does it mean and can you give a link to the site? They are the numbers inside the recycling symbol.
also add a source please
The Expert answers:
Each # indicates a different type of plastic.
Donald asks…
Where can I recycle plastic numbers that I can’t recycle in my county?
My county will only recycle #s 1 and 2. Is there any place I can send or take plastic recyclables of other numbers to be recycled, instead of just throwing them out?
The Expert answers:
Australia
Ruth asks…
Do social security card numbers get recycled?
And at what point in history did people start getting issued social security card numbers?
The Expert answers:
No each number is issued to a person and stick with that person even after death. The numbers go up in order when someone files one. For Ex your number 3, then someone born a second after you gets #4. THey were issued in 1933 by the New Deal
John asks…
Do you think your cable or phone company should have a mandatory waiting time before recycling a phone number?
my phone company (time warner cable (all-in-one)) recycles numbers all the time with little or no waiting period. i had my phone number changed from some asshole with bad credit or billing problems. i pay extra to have my new number non-published and private. and the day after i had it changed i got about 6 calls from these forign sounding people asking for a person named rachelle wimmington. first i asked how they got this number. then i kept telling them that i just had my number changed and must of gotten a recycled number and that no one with that names lives at this number. it didnt help. they still harassed me at all hours and early on weekends. i got nasty wtith them after about the 20th call. so finally i called time warner and told them what was going on, they just told me they recycle numbers all the time. DO YOU think they should wait long enough so who-ever it is will know not to try to call that number for that person because its ovbiously been changed or is out of service
also when i called the phone company i had my number changed again….. but what if i had given my new number out allready. what a pain in my ass. i had to wait another 10 days or so before i could get rid of the mis-lead phone thugs. and get my new new number
wow i didnt know they were doing it with cell #’s too. I LOVE how you cant tell them the situation because they think your lying…..
I knew i wasnt the only one, a year mabye too long and 6 weeks mabye too short. thats somthin our local or federal govt. should step in and do somthing about (i think anyway), like make it a mandatory (whatever) say…. 9 weeks, and tell all these bill collectors or whomever would be harassing that if a number is dormant (say 6 or 7 weeks) for this whatever (but shorter than the total mandatory recycling time) ammount of time than they have to take it off there harassment list and they have to find the actualy recipients new number but they can no longer attempt to reach them at the old one that was dormant no matter what. even if they got there old one back they should have to make them proove its the same person before calling it…. im sure they never will. unless there is a way they can profit from it… i just picked a best answer at random. theyre is no best i think because of the nature of the question. thanks everyone for relating
The Expert answers:
Absolutely….i got a recycled phone number once from a previous rape victim and they called us every time the prisoner was transfered to a different facility…there should be at least a year wait time
Lizzie asks…
What does this recycling sign mean?
ok so this is for a sci project…
i have a styrofoam lunch tray and it has the recycling sign with the number six in it. what does it mean and are there recycling signs with other numbers?
The Expert answers:
If you look on the bottom of any container and see a recycling symbol, it can be recycled.
The only thing to concern one’s self with when recycling is that not all waste management companies or recycling centers will accept everything with a recycle symbol due to their capabilities – your local waste management company should provide recycling guidelines for curbside pickup or recycle center drop off.
The #6 refers to the resin within the plastic container itself – polystyrene (PS). Another common name of #6 products is “styrofoam.”
The use of these containers can leach styrene into your food.
Cancer research suggests that it’s use poses health risks.
Please, for health’s sake, DO NOT reheat any take-out food in #6 containers (and other plastic containers, for that matter).
FYI, the link provided does reference the Three plastics to avoid, if at all possible, and will give you a complete list of the recycle numbers and their meanings.
Hope this helps with your research project.
Best of luck to you!!
LeighAnn 🙂
Laura asks…
What do the numbers mean on plastic recycle-ables?
what is the difference between all the numbers and why do some take them and some don’t?
The Expert answers:
The number associated with plastics both explain the origin of the plastic and it’s safety in regards to food storage.
1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) – used for clear water bottles, juice and soda bottles, etc. Leaches trioxide and pthalate, known carcinogens and endocrine disrupters (see note at bottom).
2 High density polyethylene (HDPE) – used for opaque plastics like milk jugs, cereal bags, shampoo bottles. Considered SAFE for food and beverage storage.
3 Polyvinyl chloride (V or Vinyl or PVC) – used for plastic food wrap, toys, food containers, medical and plumbing tubing. Has been described as one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. Leaches various kinds of pthalates, including those that are illegal in other parts of the world.
4 Low density polyethylene (LDPE) – used in bread bags, dry cleaning bags, etc. Considered SAFE.
5 Polypropylene (PP) – used for baby bottles, yogurt containers, straws, ketchup bottles, etc. Considered SAFE.
6 Polystyrene (PS) – Styrofoam… Take out containers, egg cartons, meat trays, plastic utensils, CD cases. Leaches styrene, a known endocrine disrupter.
7 Other – the catch-all category that includes both the newer, safer plastics that are still uncategorized and older, dangerous polycarbonate items. Polycarbonates leach Bisphenol-A (BPA), the cause of the recent baby bottle recall across the US and Canada. BPA is another known endocrine disrupter.
Joseph asks…
how fast to cellphone numbers recycle?
say I change my number. how long before someone else has my old number as their own?
The Expert answers:
It can take minutes to months depends when you number becomes available
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