Did you know that plastic tubes of toothpaste may be recyclable? Major manufacturers have switched from using a plastic tube made from a variety of plastics to the more commonly recyclable No. 2 polyethylene plastic. While any plastic is never really the greenest solution, this is a step in the right direction, since this type of plastic is commonly accepted in curbside recycling and has a good chance of being recycled. If you want to go greener, look for brands that use aluminum for their packaging.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us keep an older refrigerator for beverages and other items. These second appliances often are much older, and you may not realize how horribly inefficient they are or how much energy they use. In fact, if you have a refrigerator that was made before 1990, it likely uses twice as much energy as a new fridge. Even models that are made after 1990 are not as energy-efficient as today’s Energy Star-rated models. If you’re not really using that second fridge, unplug it.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Organic bone meal fertilizer is an excellent way to enrich your garden with minerals and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Instead of buying it from a garden supply store, you actually can make your own. The process to do it yourself can be found online, but it generally involves boiling the bones to strip them clean, baking them until the bones are dry and brittle, and then pulverizing them with a rolling pin until they turn into dust. Late fall is an excellent time to amend your soil with DIY bone meal fertilizer.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION