Ever wonder why your curbside recycler asks you put "clean and dry" recyclables in your bin? It's simple: The cleaner your recyclables, the more money they are worth. When your load of recyclables comes to the sorting facility, it is sorted first by type of recyclable. Those are sorted by quality of cleanliness, from clean to dirty. The dirtier the recyclables, the less valuable they are. By always putting clean and dry recyclables in your bin, you help lower costs in the long run and save your community money, too.

According to companies that handle curbside recycling, the worst items found in single-stream recycling bins are plastic shopping bags. They are the absolute last things you should put in a recycling bin. When they show up in loads of recyclables, the flimsy plastic has to be sorted, removed and disposed of as trash. And worse? Those that aren't caught wind around recycling machines and clog the system. Instead, bring clean plastic bags to designated recycling bins at your local grocery store.

According to the animal advocacy website AcctPhilly.org, when you see a healthy cat wandering your neighborhood, it may be best to just leave it alone. Healthy felines who are not in danger are often best left alone so they can find their own way home. Trying to trap the cat and bring it to a shelter when it is not in need of medical care "is the least likely way for that cat to get home." But if you are concerned for the cat's safety (after being attacked by a dog, for example), you should intervene.