If you have food waste, here are some quick and easy ways to use leftover scraps, peels and trimmings in the kitchen. Broccoli stalks are edible and can be sliced, trimmed and made into a nutrient-dense soup. Rinds from hard cheeses can be tossed directly into sauces and soups to add a new dimension of cheesy, salty flavor. For a most delicious snack, save your potato skins and dry them to make crispy, crunchy potato-skin snacks. And a good tip worth repeating: Save your coffee grinds and rub them in your hands. They’ll exfoliate your skin and leave your hands baby soft.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Curbside trash service almost makes it too easy to mindlessly fill up a trash can and not consider the impact of all that waste. A new movement of homeowners is suspending their trash pickup service for one month to see if they can consciously reduce their trash output. This can force families to evaluate how much waste they create, how much they consume and bring into a home, and how they can cut back. And they save a little money not paying for trash pickup for one month, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When you’re shipping something fragile, finding the right sturdy cardboard box can be difficult and cost-prohibitive. One of the best places to find durable boxes with cardboard dividers is at your local wine and spirits shop. These boxes are designed to transport glass bottles, and often the store is more than happy to share them with you. If you want something even more durable, ask about wooden crates. High-end imported wines often come in wooden crates, and many stores are willing to part with them for free, especially if you’re a loyal customer of their store.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION