After you’ve brewed a cup of tea, you might think the tea bag, used tea and paper label are all fine to throw into the compost bin, right? The reality is the bag is not paper at all, but polypropylene, which is a synthetic, plasticlike resin. And the string and label are usually attached with a small metal staple, which is not compostable. If you want to compost, you need to rip open the bag and toss the contents into the compost, then dispose of the rest. Or try loose tea; you can brew it in a reusable filter and have zero waste with this method.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you have a little leftover brewed coffee from the morning, there’s no need to pour it down the drain later in the day. While coffee is acidic, when it’s brewed with water the acidity is diluted significantly. And while caffeine has yet to be proven beneficial to plants, coffee is high in good things like magnesium and potassium, which are building blocks for plant growth. So pour some cold coffee over your outdoor plants and garden to give them a nutritious boost. And the leftover grounds are always a welcome addition to your compost heap.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Homeowners may see it as a way of protecting their investment, but think twice about removing bird nests that may be in nooks and crannies on the outside of your house. For the few short weeks birds are raising their young, the noise and mess will be worth it; the nesting birds will soon leave and become your best insect killers around the house, eating hundreds of insects every single day. Wait until the babies leave the nest before removing it and the birds will repay your hospitality tenfold.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION