The majority of litter at beaches isn't caused by litterbugs. It's from single-use products with lightweight leftovers, like wrappers and empty plastic bottles. These items are accidentally knocked out of trash cans or blown away by a gust of wind. If you have trash from your day at the beach, don't use the receptacles there; take the trash with you. Bring it home or to a hotel, where refuse can be properly and securely disposed of. You can even use the app iRecycle to find the closest recycling bin to you if your hotel does not recycle.

How many times have you seen a landscaping sprinkler system running at full power during a rainstorm? It's not because of a wasteful homeowner at all; it's because the sprinkler system is on an automatic system that does not know the weather. To fix this problem (and save water and money), have a rain sensor installed to your sprinkler system. The sensor determines whether enough rainfall has occurred in order to skip an irrigation cycle. If it senses enough moisture, it breaks the electrical connection to your sprinkler system so it won't turn on. It's easy to install and makes your sprinkler system more efficient.

Instead of using harsh paint stripper to remove paint from your hands or a nonporous surface, try this natural method natural instead: Use olive oil and salt to loosen dried paint and gently lift it away. Start by dabbing the area with a small amount of olive oil. Then sprinkle salt on top and use it as a gentle exfoliator. Add more oil and wipe away. Use a little soap and water to wash the oil mixture off. The oil helps lift the paint away from the surface, and the salt speeds up the process.