If you have a drawer or cabinet full of unwanted medals you won from racing or academic events (like many swimmers have from their high school days), you can do more than let them collect dust. The nonprofit Sports Medal Recycling wants to use your medals to raise money for community sporting events. When you send in your medals, the metal, textiles and even plastics are separated and sent to a recycler; all the proceeds raised benefit charity sporting events. Learn more at sportsmedalrecycling.com.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Here’s another reason to quit drinking bottled water: It’s often laced with plastic particles. Scientists recently tested a variety of national-brand bottled waters and found that 93 percent of them were contaminated with plastic. The plastic didn’t come from polluted water sources, but from the actual packaging to make the bottled water. When manufacturers cut plastic bottles and add caps, they create small fragments of plastic that are inadvertently added to the water. When consumers drink the water, they ingest the plastic. Clean, free tap water is still the best way to stay hydrated.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It’s believed that up to 20 percent of the 45 million people who wear disposable contact lenses flush them down the toilet. While it may not seem like a big deal to have the tiny plastic lenses go down the drain, it ends up leading to significant ocean pollution. The lenses break down and become “microplastics,” which marine life mistake for food and eat. This not only poisons marine life, but it can end up in our food supply as well. If you wear contacts, dispose of them properly in the trash and not down the drain. Or better yet: Wear eyeglasses when you can.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION