Do you have a small collection of gift cards for use at retail stores, national chain restaurants, pharmacies or online shops? Turns out even if you have a small balance left on those cards, you can use those few cents and dollars for good. Many nonprofits work in partnership with companies like Cardcash to help you simply redeem what's left online and give the remainder to the charity. It only takes a few minutes and it can go a long way to support your favorite nonprofit.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us know that a No. 1 or No. 2 symbol on the bottom of a plastic container means it is easily recyclable. But be sure the container did not hold any poisonous or toxic substances. Containers that held pesticides, conventional cleaning products and bleach need to be rinsed out thoroughly before recycling. If in doubt, it is better to throw the container away with regular trash than to place the contaminated plastic in the recycling bin.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Office paper recycling has become more common everywhere, including in residential communities, where large recycling bins are available to collect bags of old paper for recycling. Generally, used paper is recycled by pulping it to create new paper products. One way to help maximize paper recycling is to leave recyclable paper flat. Crumpled paper takes up significant space and can fill a recycling bin too quickly with air, leading to inefficient paper recycling. And avoid shredders if possible; shredding makes the fibers shorter and less strong, which makes it the least desirable recyclable.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION