2/16/14

While it may be tempting to raid your pantry and use leftover food like old bread, nuts and snack food to feed wildlife, it's actually doing more damage than good. According to the Humane Society of the United States, "people food" can be unhealthy for wildlife and hurt their digestive tract when they eat it. Plus, feeding wild animals close to your home lessens their fear of humans, turning them into wild panhandlers. But you may also be inadvertently feeding wildlife without realizing it by feeding your pets outdoors. If the family dog doesn't finish his food, it becomes a tempting food source for wildlife. They'll eat it and keep returning to get more. So feed your dog indoors to prevent that from happening.

2/15/14

One of the most commonly accepted recyclable metals is aluminum. Soda cans are easily recyclable: Just empty the can and toss it into the bin. Slight residual liquid waste inside is fine. But foil products like aluminum wrap, disposable burner covers for the stove and bakeware are also recyclable. Just be sure to wipe off any residual food, grease or other waste on the foil. It should be easy: Aluminum metal is naturally nonstick. The best part is that aluminum can be recycled infinitely into new metal products.

2/14/14

Office paper recycling for computer paper, magazines and other documents can be easily collected, sorted and recycled into new paper products. But one thing that can be almost impossible to recycle is paper that has been through a paper shredder. Shredded paper leads to short paper fibers, which are harder to recycle. If you must shred for security reasons, try ripping the paper by hand into several smaller pieces and scattering it in several recycling bins.