It seems harmless enough: There's a recycling bin at your local coffee shop or office, and you think, "What could possibly be the harm in throwing in a dirty napkin or plastic fork with recyclable cans and bottles?" Turns out, a huge deal of harm. According to The New York Times, buyers of recyclables will reject a whole load if it's more than .5% contaminated. Small amounts of contaminants like that fork and dirty napkin add up, and they can cause an entire load of recyclable material to be turned away from a recycling facility and sent to the landfill instead.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Here's a favorite "Do Just One Thing" that is always worth revisiting: Use revolving doors when entering stores and office buildings. When you have the choice, go with revolving doors because they help block heat and air conditioning from escaping from the store. Using a regular door can create a vacuum effect, forcing hot air into the store during the summer months and causing the air conditioning system to work harder and less efficiently to cool the place. Choosing a revolving door is an easy and green thing you can do every day.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know that the takeoff and landing are the parts of a plane trip that use up the most fuel? This is why choosing a nonstop flight is far more fuel-efficient than connecting on multiple flights to get to your destination. But choosing the right type of plane can also help reduce your carbon footprint. Airplanes like the 787 Dreamliner use 20% less fuel than their counterparts, and some airlines are also fixing older planes to be more fuel-efficient.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION