Many homes and offices have an abundance of generic cylindrical glass vases. You get them from flower deliveries for special occasions, and since they are reusable, we all save them. One way to give this collection of vases a new home is to give them to a church or a place of worship. They often need vases to fill with fresh flowers that they take from the altar to share with homebound or sick parishioners. You can also give the vases back to the florist.

A simple way to cut back on paper receipts is to have the proof of purchases sent to your email account. To organize your digital receipts, use an app to keep them categorized and accessible. OneReceipt is a free app that can store not only your receipts, but your credit card and bank statements, too. If you happen to get a paper receipt, you can just take a snapshot with your phone and OneReceipt will add it to your digital collection. The app is available for iPhones only.

It's nearly impossible to recycle plastic cling wrap that you use to cover bowls before you microwave to prevent splattering. Since the plastic resins used in cling wrap are difficult to recycle, it's rejected by recyclers and should be tossed into the trash. But do you even need it? Try this eco-alternative instead: Place a microwave-safe dish on top of the bowl and then heat your food. The plate will act as a cover and prevent splatters, and then the whole set -- bowl and plate -- can be washed and reused.