When burning firewood at home, many of us turn to old newspapers as a fire starter. Black-and-white newsprint is fine to use, but never use wrapping paper, circular coupons and pages from magazines. The inks and finishes used on these papers contain metals that can emit toxic fumes when burned. Since the papers burn quickly, they can leave creosote deposits on the flue, which can create an unsafe fireplace.

When you receive a large envelope in the mail made from Tyvek, the strong synthetic polyethelyene fibers, don't toss it in the trash. Because Tyvek envelopes are water-resistant and nearly impossible to tear (but can be easily opened with scissors), there are myriad ways to reuse them. One idea is to reuse the envelopes to store important documents, photos and other sensitive printed pieces. The water resistance will protect them, and the natural UV light barrier of the material will prevent fading. Just seal it with packing tape to make sure the Tyvek protects your precious documents. You can write what's in the envelope on the outside with a permanent marker.

When it's time to buy new forks, spoons and knives, look for pieces that are solid stainless steel from tip to handle. When it's time to get new utensils many years down the road, the 100 percent metal tableware pieces are easily and fully recyclable. Utensils that have wooden or plastic handles are not as easily recyclable, since the handles will need to be separated. Added bonus? Stainless steel pieces are also more durable and dishwasher safe, too.