They may seem small, but millions of plastic hotel keycards are made and tossed away every year. Hotels are slowly replacing the hard-to-recycle plastic with biodegradables and eco-resins, but until then, try two things. First, always return the keycard to the front desk to be reused. Second, if a hotel participates in a smartphone program, download the app and use your phone to unlock your door instead. This eliminates the need for a hotel keycard altogether.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Twice a year, make it a priority to clean the inside of your fridge and freezer, and purge any food items that are past their expiration date. Wash the interior of the fridge with a solution of warm water and baking soda to loosen hard spills so they soften and can be wiped out. If possible, pull the fridge out from the wall and vacuum underneath and behind it, since dust buildup can force a fridge to work harder. And make a pledge to always toss out old food throughout the year and recycle any containers that are recyclable.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Canadian scientists recently discovered that steeping a tea bag in hot water can release billions of micro- and nano-plastics into your cup of Earl Grey. This was by far the largest amount of plastic found in any beverage, and it’s easy to understand why: The tea bag is made with plastic, and it’s steeping in incredibly hot water. This is just one more reason to consider brewing with loose tea. Just look for stainless steel infusers; they contain no plastics and are reusable, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION