3/24/13

Aseptic boxes, paperboard containers in which food items like juice, milk and ice cream come, can be difficult to recycle in many communities. Instead, save and reuse the small containers as seed starters for your backyard garden. Simply poke a hole in the bottom of the clean container, and fill the box with soil. Add seeds, water generously and wait for your new plants to grow. Once they are large enough, the paper can be peeled away, and the new seedlings can be put into the garden.

3/23/13

One easy way to recycle leftover paint in myriad colors is to simply mix it all together into one solid color of chalkboard paint. Make sure all the paint is water-based latex (most are these days) and in usable condition. Pour it into one large bucket and stir until it's completely blended. Add a few tablespoons of powdered grout from the hardware store and mix again. Voila! Instant chalkboard paint.

3/22/13

If you forget to bring reusable shopping bags to the grocery store, it can be tempting to raid the plastic bag recycling bin and reuse those instead of getting new bags. But the reality is that you risk cross-contaminating your groceries with unknown foodborne illnesses from those bags. It isn't worth the health risk, and it's better to get new plastic bags and recycle those the next time you go shopping -- just remember to bring reusable bags next time you shop!