During COVID, online retailers saw a whopping 200% increase in sales, which means a whole lot of extra cardboard boxes ended up in recycling bins. When you have an excess of boxes, first try to reuse them, either when you need to ship things or for storage around the house. If you can't reuse them and are ready to recycle them instead, do two things: Flatten them and remove all the plastic tape. The tape is nonrecyclable and should always be removed and discarded.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

According to the nonprofit Global Citizen, between 2012 and 2016, there was an "84% increase in recycling being rejected because of people contaminating it with nonrecyclable items." One way to help is to make sure your recyclables aren't coated in food, so give them a good rinse in the sink before placing them in the bin. Also, avoid the most commonly rejected items in recycling bins: laminated pouches, toys, toothpaste tubes, tissues, broken glass drinkware and old clothing.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Take a look at your cookware today. Is the bottom flat, or is it slightly warped from use? If your cookware isn't perfectly flat, it can be an incredibly inefficient way to cook. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a "warped-bottom pot could take 50% more energy to boil water" versus a flat one. And when it comes to baking, choose glass or ceramic dishes. They heat up faster than metal, which means you can bake, roast and cook things at temperatures 25 degrees lower.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION