Replacing an old water heater or have a brass headboard that's too damaged to donate? Whatever the metal items you might need to dispose of, there's actually a very good chance it has value as scrap metal. The new online website iScrapApp.com makes it easy to turn trash into cash. The online directory lists the scrap metal yards closest to you and what types of items they take. A "yard profile" for the location also lists reported prices for different types of scrap metals. It's all user-generated and helpful in figuring out how much you could potentially earn.

A 2012 study by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice found that 75 percent of children's school supplies (folders, backpacks and lunchboxes) contained toxic phthalates. If you're a parent trying to avoid pthalates, there are certain steps you can take to find nontoxic school supplies. First, look for canvas, hemp or cotton backpacks; avoid shiny, plastic-looking bags that are likely made with PVC. The same goes for lunch containers: Stainless steel containers or fabric lunch sacks are better than hard plastic boxes. And go with rigid paperboard binders over plastic ones.

Have an old fur coat in the closet? You can put it to good use to help wild animals in need. The nonprofit animal advocacy organization Born Free runs the Fur for the Animals Campaign, which uses old fur coats (and hats and blankets) to help orphaned and injured wild animals. The items are sent to wildlife rehabilitation centers around the United States, where they are used to give warmth and comfort to animals like coyote pups, possums, foxes and bobcats.