6/2/13

Donating food to your local food bank or soup kitchen is a great way to empty your pantry and help others. But keep in mind that just because it's technically food, it doesn't make it OK to donate absolutely anything. Generally, canned food that is unlabeled or has any rust on it is not OK to donate and should be tossed. Homemade food items, beverage mixes and soda should also be avoided. The most-wanted items include healthy foods like canned and boxed meals (think mac and cheese), pasta, rice, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, cooking oil and 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.

6/1/13

Paper recycling has become more common at the workplace and in residential communities. Old paper is recycled by shredding it, pulping it and making it into new products. One way to help maximize recycling is to leave recyclable paper flat and not crumple it. Wadding up paper takes up significant space and can fill a recycling bin too quickly, which leads to inefficient recycling.

5/31/13

When grocery shopping, if you change your mind about buying something and don't feel like returning it where you found it, bring it to the checkout line with you. Many people will leave unwanted items in places where they don't belong -- like a box of cereal with paper goods. Over time, misplaced items can get lost, damaged and expired, leading to food waste. If you change your mind about an item, simply bring it to the checkout and hand it to the cashier; stores have a system in place to reshelve items properly so nothing gets wasted.