An association of athletes called Sports Medal Recycling does just that: They take your old medals gathering dust from road races, endurance events and track and field competitions and recycle them. The organization separates all the recyclable materials -- the metals used to make the medallions, the ribbons that hold them and even the cardboard and plastic packaging -- and keeps it all out of landfills. The proceeds are used to support nonprofit and charity runs to cover the cost of participation (with all of the money going to charitable organizations). To learn more and get the ship-to address, visit sportsmedalrecycling.com.

Here’s another reason to avoid artificial sweeteners and diet drinks: They can pollute our waterways. A study that appeared in the journal Environmental Science and Technology showed that after consumption, the human body flushes artificial sweetener down the toilet and into the water supply. And here is where this chemical sweetener can have a drastic impact on the biodiversity of the planet: Water with fake sugar impacts a plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis. This impacts its ability to produce food and release oxygen. And small aquatic species are affected by this toxic water, which flows up the food chain to the fish and larger species that consume them. The best bet: Avoid fake sugars and stick with ingredients you can pronounce.

Many people use something called “treated wood” when constructing things like backyard decks. It’s a preferred choice for many contractors because treated wood -- on which toxic chemicals like arsenic are used -- is long-lasting and resists decay. But it’s also very toxic. Most communities consider treated wood scraps and even saw dust as a household hazardous waste and refuse to accept it in regular trash pickups. If you have scrap treated wood, never burn it; that releases the toxins through emissions and ash. Instead of chemically treated wood, look for natural alternatives like cedar or recycled plastic composite decking.