1/27/13

Save the skins of fresh lemons the next time you cook, and use them to help preserve your perishable foods. Olive oil, which can be expensive, has a shelf life of around six months. Inserting a lemon rind into the bottle can extend that time. It will also help the oil taste fresher. Also, to help keep brown sugar from turning hard, insert one or two peels into the bag to keep it fresh and soft.

1/26/13

Many of us place our trash cans on the curb the night before its picked up, but what we may not realize is that many wild animals like foxes, raccoons and pigeons feed off our trash. Many wild animals look for scraps like chicken bones and pieces of meat for dinner. This leads to strewn trash, and, more importantly, it can kill wild animals. Save non-recyclable containers whenever you get takeout to store leftover food inside, and seal it shut before throwing it in the trash. If it's impenetrable to animals, it will help to prevent scavenging.

1/25/13

Starbucks is helping to make going green a lot easier. In an effort to reduce waste of disposable coffee cups, the coffee giant is now selling a $1 reusable cup modeled after their iconic paper cup. Customers who use any reusable cups are rewarded with a 10-cent discount for each refill. And in an effort to reduce waste from plastic gift cards, a new mobile app for your iPhone or Android phone lets you pay for your order with your phone. No waste and no fuss.