Did you know the standard size of a recycling bin provided by trash haulers is 65 gallons? If you're recycling more and making less trash, do this one thing: Ask for a larger bin. An upgrade to a 95-gallon recycling bin is usually free, and all it takes to get it is a simple phone call. While you're at it, if you downsize your garbage bin, many trash haulers will also reduce the price of your monthly service. Make less trash, save more cash!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you have a lot of laundry to do, it might seem like an economical and timesaving idea to slightly overload the washing machine. One long-term problem with this tactic is that the excess weight of the wet clothing eventually wears out the machine's internal drum, leading to lower efficiency and poor performance. In the short term, when clothing doesn't have room to be agitated inside the washer, it doesn't get clean. So save water, time and energy, and help your washer last longer, by following the manufacturer's load-size recommendations.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

There's been a recent call to boycott any coconut milk products that come from Thailand, due to the mistreatment of monkeys who are chained and trained to pick coconuts. According to the BBC, a monkey can pick up to 1,000 coconuts a day; by comparison, a human can harvest only about 80. Monkeys trained to pick coconuts are often abused and forced to live in small cages. Animal welfare organizations are urging consumers to read the labels of coconut milk; if a label reads "Product of Thailand," do not buy it.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION