If you collect paper items like magazines, junk mail and newspaper in a shopping bag for recycling, be careful which type of bag you use. Shopping bags that are made from glossy paper or have plastic handles are not good options; they are hard to recycle and need to be sorted into a different paper category at the recycling facility. Instead, consider brown paper grocery bags, or just bundle the papers together with natural string like twine.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you want to attract more birds to your yard, there's no need to have bird feeders full of seed everywhere. Instead, eliminate all chemical insecticides from your backyard. According to the National Wildlife Federation, our feathered friends love to hunt and eat insects because it's their primary source of protein. When a yard is treated to eliminate insects, it's a less attractive environment for birds to visit. Turn your yard into a wildlife habitat and you'll not only go green, but you'll save the money you would have spent on costly (and unnecessary) spray treatments.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's time to ditch plastic bowls and plates -- no matter how durable they seem -- in favor of glass or ceramic. Over time, plastic dinnerware can release millions of microplastics into your food. This can happen when you microwave meals, wash items in the dishwasher or use plastic plates for highly acidic foods. In fact, just three minutes of microwaving has been shown to release more than 4 million microplastics at a time. If you must use plastic tableware, stick to cold foods -- never microwave it -- and always wash by hand.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION