If you're planning to spend hot summer nights in your backyard or will be having a picnic in the park, be sure to be extra careful when the festivities are over. Containers that have small openings -- like salad dressing bottles, mustard jars and ketchup containers -- can be tempting to wild animals. They'll even force their heads into bottles to get out the last bits of tasty treats. Be sure to pick up small debris like plastic sandwich bags, aluminum foil and even toothpicks, all of which can harm animals if ingested.

Does your office have furniture, electronic equipment, extra reams of paper or anything else that you'd like to see go to a good cause instead of the landfill? Use the website recycles.org to list the items you have to give. Nonprofit organizations use the site to search for things they need. It matches companies and individuals with items to donate with charities that need them. You can even keep your identity confidential if you wish to give your unwanted goods anonymously.

Microscopic fibers shed from synthetic fibers in the washing machine wash down the drain and into aquatic ecosystems. The fibers end up in oceans, are ingested by fish and can eventually make their way back into our food supply. To "green" your clothing choices and laundry, look for clothing with natural materials like organic cotton, linen, hemp and sisal. If you can, avoid synthetics like polyester, rayon, spandex and nylon. But for your clothing like fleece pullovers, consider washing them by hand, which is less likely to shed fibers.