Many communities across America are starting to collect organic food scraps like vegetable and fruit peels, yard waste and table scraps to be composted and made into beneficial mulch. If your waste service provider accepts food waste for recycling, keep these simple tips in mind to make your collection process a hassle-free one. First, use compostable bags -- which are marked "compostable" or with an "ASTM-D6400" mark -- rather than recycled or biodegradable ones. Compostable bags are designed to be tossed with the food waste and will naturally break down.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Air conditioning in the car reduces fuel efficiency because it takes energy from the engine to run the internal cooling unit. When it is extremely hot outside, it totally makes sense to use the air conditioner, but cool your car the same way you do your house -- by maintaining a temperature around 74 degrees rather than blasting the coldest possible air. Also, park in shady spots whenever possible, and start by flushing hot air out of the car by opening all the windows when you first get in.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's very common for us to use our car's GPS, our phone's map or another app to plan our route when driving. Using these GPS devices can help you to avoid getting lost and wasting fuel. But did you know that one of the most popular mapping apps -- Google Maps -- also has a function to let you opt for "eco-friendly routing"? Not only does it help you get to your destination, but it also looks for ways to save fuel on your trip. It may not get you there the fastest, but it'll help you save money at the pump.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION