An in-sink garbage disposal may seem like a convenience, but the reality is it’s an environmental waste and can cause damage to your home. Many communities have banned garbage disposals because the solid waste they create can overtax water treatment facilities. Some studies have shown that sending food waste into our water supply is three times more harmful than sending it to the landfill. And for homeowners with on-site septic systems, this food waste can cause serious damage to the system. The solution? Skip it, compost and send non-compostable waste to the landfill.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A dual-flush toilet is a great way to save water at home because it lets you decide if you need a full or partial flush. But if you have a perfectly fine single-flush toilet, how do you save water? You can convert your toilet into a water-conserving one simply by switching out the toilet flapper. For less than $10, you can add an adjustable flapper that lets you shorten the chain. This means a conventional toilet that uses 5 to 7 gallons of water becomes a water-efficient one that uses just 2.5 gallons. This pays for itself in no time.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

An average household of four people uses about 12,000 gallons of water every year doing laundry. Cutting down on your washing machine’s water usage can help with water conservation and save you money. One of the easiest switches to make is to avoid the permanent-press cycle, which uses about 5 gallons of water during the extra rinse. And if you can’t wait to run a full load of laundry in order to maximize water usage, simply adjust the water levels to match the smaller load of laundry. These simple steps can save hundreds of gallons of water every year.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION