Did you know the shelf life of dried spices is about two years? It can be hard to remember when you bought herbs and spices, so be sure to mark the month and year on the jar when you bring home new containers. When it’s time to replace spices, don’t toss them into the trash. Old spices can be used to make all-natural aromatherapy sprays or even used as all-natural insect repellants around the house. Just look up individual spices and find out some clever hacks for how to use them. The easiest? Toss your old spices into your compost bin.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Are you still getting bills in the mail? It may not seem like much, but all of those paper bills for your car lease, utilities and credit cards generate over 2 million tons of carbon pollution every year, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. It’s easy to curb this waste; ask to switch to e-billing so invoices and statements come to you via email instead of snail mail. Often, companies will reward your green act with savings, rewards or gifts, so going green can have extra incentives, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Just because a product or its packaging has a recycling symbol on it doesn’t mean it is easily recyclable. The question you have to ask is this: Is the item recyclable within your community or in your curbside recycling program? If it isn’t, it does not matter if it has the symbol. Items like Styrofoam cups are marked with a No. 6 recycling symbol but are nearly impossible to recycle, so even if you toss them into the recycling bin, they’ll end up in the landfill anyway.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION