Many communities now accept plastics for recycling that are marked with symbols ranging from No. 1 to No. 7. In the past, it was usually just No. 1 and No. 2 (milk jugs and detergent bottles), but all sorts are now recyclable, depending on your curbside program. Beyond plastic food packaging, there are other items that are on that recyclable list, including plastic CD cases, drinking cups, food takeout containers and egg cartons. As always, they should be clean and clearly marked for recycling, and you need to be sure your community takes all recyclable plastics before placing them in the bin.

Every drop counts when it comes to saving water, so try these tips to conserve some H2O at home. If you run the faucet until you get cool water, capture the running water in another glass instead of letting it run down the drain; put it in the fridge so it’s ready for a cool drink later in the day. Never defrost food using running water; this is a major waste of resources -- especially when the microwave defrost setting or your refrigerator can also safely and quickly do the trick. And when doing laundry, match your water level to your load size; the manual should tell you how to adjust your machine for the perfect water level.

Many people have asked me: Is it OK to take down an abandoned bird’s nest? Generally, the answer is no. First, in many states it’s illegal to remove a nest, depending on the species of bird and what stage of use it’s in. It’s often hard to know the status for sure; your removal could be breaking the law. For your personal health, a bird’s nest is nothing like a decorative craft store one; it’s often loaded with parasites, bacteria and mites that can be harmful to humans. Even if a nest is absolutely abandoned, birds are notorious recyclers; it’ll get torn apart and the pieces will be used by other birds for new nests.