Modern-day paper shredders do an excellent job of finely cutting, dicing and obliterating important documents so they are impossible to piece back together. While these shredders are great for protecting your privacy, they are terrible for the environment. When paper is cut into small pieces, the fiber sizes are reduced to the point of being non-recyclable, which is why recyclers do not take shredded paper. When it comes to paper, use the shredder for important docs and leave unimportant recyclable paper unshredded so it can be made into new paper products.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Concentrated cleaning products that you just add water to are gaining popularity for their price and reduced plastic packaging. But when you dilute these concentrated packets using tap water, you can end up with foul-smelling products in just a few days. Tap water usually has hard minerals, which can make cleaning products smell dirty. The solution? Use distilled water from the store, which is free from minerals, or collect rain water, which is naturally mineral-free.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Are your kid’s lunches coming home half-eaten every day? It may not be a case of them not being interested in their food; they may actually have too much food to eat. The reality is, there are different appropriate food portions for kids, and throwing away uneaten food every day is both an ecological and economic waste. The website choosemyplate.gov helps provide information on the correct portion sizes for kids of every age. You can also encourage your kids to pack their lunches with you. This will empower them and make them more inclined to pack only what they want.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION