You might wonder if the free weights that are gathering dust in your basement gym are recyclable. Yes, hand weights are recyclable. Most free weights are made entirely from iron, often with steel handles covered in rubber. These minimal materials make them ideal for recycling and can get you around 50 cents per pound at the scrap metal recycling facility. But there is a huge resale market for free weights, so post them for sale and they may find a new home that way.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you use a laptop computer every day, there are some easy steps you can take to make sure it's running as efficiently as possible. First, whenever you're not using external devices like drives and printers, unplug them. When they are plugged into your USB port, they draw a lot of power. Unplug the charger if your battery has sufficient life; leaving it plugged in not only wastes energy, but it also can degrade the life of your battery. And always totally shut down the computer when you're done; leaving it on standby or sleep mode still consumes power.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A recent study by the scientific journal PLOS One discovered that a typical load of laundry creates plastic microfibers that are released into waterways and eventually into the ocean. The plastic microfibers (from synthetic fabrics) are invisible to the naked eye, but they contribute to destruction of ocean life and ecosystems. And it turns out nearly 28 million pounds of these microfibers make their way into our oceans every day. To help, do two things: Wash clothing only when you need it, and run your washing machine for a shorter period of time at a cooler temperature. Using cold water for 30 minutes as opposed to hot water for 85 minutes resulted in a 30% reduction in microfibers produced.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION