Many beverages like milk, soy milk, wine and even water come packaged in paperboard containers called Tetra Paks. These paper containers are made of several layers of paperboard, aluminum and other recyclables, and they used to be hard to recycle. Now, many communities accept them for recycling, which is great news. When recycling Tetra Paks, you can leave the plastic caps on; they are recyclable. And don’t flatten them too much since recycling sorting machines recognize these materials by their 3-D shape.

If you run or go for long-distance walks, you can turn your workout into a fundraiser for the charity of your choice. The app CharityMiles tracks how many miles you run or walk in a workout. Corporate sponsors give money to charities based on the number of miles you (and other members) worked out. Over 40 million miles have been logged and more than $2 million has been given to charities like the World Wildlife Fund and Habitat for Humanity. Learn more at charitymiles.org.

If you’ve got a leather coat with a smell you’d like to remove, throwing it in a washing machine isn’t the solution. Before you pay for expensive dry cleaning, try this DIY idea instead: Take an old nylon and fill it with charcoal (even briquettes for the barbecue work). Stuff the jacket sleeves with newspaper, and throw it in a clean trash bag; add the nylon briquettes and seal the bag. Let it sit for five days. The newspaper and charcoal will absorb odor and freshen your smelly leather coat.