Those little stickers you find on the outside of bananas, apples, avocadoes and other produce are both a nuisance and a marvel. They help keep the massive supply chain of perishable foods in check, but they can be a pain. Unfortunately, the stickers are not compostable or biodegradable. They are considered the worst offender in contaminating compost scraps, so keep them out of your pile. And never put them down the drain of the sink; they can clog pipes. They must be removed from the produce and thrown in the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us have a junk drawer full of old USB flash drives that we're not sure what to do with. They are reusable, so you can wipe them clean and use them at home or to share files with others. But if you have a lot, you can recycle them and do something good, too. The website RecycleUSB.com accepts working USB flash drives and erases them, then loads them with educational tools for kids 5 to 12 years of age. Working in tandem with Sugar Labs, these flash drives can be used on any computer by kids all over the world, including those who need educational tools the most.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

One way to help extend the life of food is to freeze perishables and leftovers so they can be defrosted later to be enjoyed. But how do you know if your freezer is actually cold enough to preserve food? Do the ice cream test: If a container of ice cream is soft when you take it out of the freezer, your freezer is too warm. Turn down the temperature until your ice cream is solid, and you'll know everything else is at the optimum temperature to stay preserved.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION