6/12/13

Did you know the color of your cookware could affect your health? According to the Food and Drug Administration, red, yellow and orange enamel cookware is often made with toxic substances like cadmium and lead. The good news: All enamel cookware made in the United States is free of these chemicals. So be sure to buy American or steer clear of those colors when buying enamel cookware made by foreign companies.

6/11/13

Simple repairs to major kitchen appliances can save you money, extend the life of expensive equipment and reduce waste in landfills. But sometimes it's better to replace the items for safety reasons. A microwave oven is staple in most kitchens because it's a fast and energy-efficient way to heat up food. But if yours is more than 10 years old, radiation can leak from worn-out gaskets around the door. Replace your microwave and be sure to recycle it.

6/10/13

Ever buy a new TV, computer or piece of furniture and have it arrive packaged in layers of protective Styrofoam? The plastic foam can be difficult to recycle in most communities, so many people just throw it away. One program that accepts old plastic foam packaging and recycles it is from EPS Industry Alliance, an organization dedicated to making Styrofoam recycling easier and more accessible to Americans. Right now, there are about 200 drop-off locations in the U.S., and the list is growing. Find your closest location at epsindustry.org.