More than 30 million plastic hotel key cards are manufactured every year for hotel guests. Yes, some key cards are returned to the front desk and reused, but a large majority end up in the trash. Made from PVC plastic, these cards are not biodegradable and can also be unreliable when it's time to open your door. Starwood Hotels will soon launch a new program that eliminates key cards with a new smartphone app. The app is pre-programmed at check-in and allows guests to open the door with the tap of their phone. One more way technology is helping to cut waste.

Yes, memory foam mattresses and mattress toppers are made from petroleum-based resources, but that means they're 100 percent recyclable. Since the foam is petroleum-based, it's easy to melt down and turn into other plastic and foam products. Some manufacturers will take back old mattresses (for free), and there are nationwide recycling centers that collect them. To find one near you, visit earth911.com.

Those fluorescent tube light bulbs that are common in many offices and industrial rooms of the house are energy efficient, but they contain a small amount of mercury, which can be dangerous, especially if one of the tubes breaks when you replace it. If a tube light shatters, have everyone (including pets) leave the room. Turn off the central heat (or air conditioning, depending on the time of year) so it does not recirculate the mercury-laden air. Use damp paper towels and large pieces of tape to pick up all the pieces, and place everything in an airtight container. Then tape the lid securely on the container and dispose of it in the trash. Then consider safer lighting alternatives, like LED bulbs, that are mercury-free.