The nonprofit Call2Recycle has been collecting old rechargeable batteries -- the types found in cordless products, cellphones and kids’ toys -- for more than 20 years, with over 100 million pounds of rechargeable batteries collected and recycled. But did you know you can also toss in your dead electric toothbrush? Personal care products that have an integrated rechargeable battery can also be recycled in the boxes. You don’t need to remove the battery -- just toss the whole electric toothbrush into the box, and it will get recycled. The metals, plastics and other parts will be sorted and made into new products. Find a collection box near you at call2recycle.org.

How many times have you broken a wine glass or a vase and thought, I'll just put this in the recycling bin. Glass is glass, right? The reality is, if you break a non-food container type of glass, throw it in the trash. Sturdier glass for bakeware, vases, drinking glasses, mixing bowls, measuring cups and anything else that didn’t come packaged with food needs to be separated from the recycling bin. Those glasses don’t melt at the same temperature as glass used for food packaging, so when it mixes in with food packaging glass, it can contaminate a whole load and make glass recycling nearly impossible.

Another reason to avoid artificial fragrance: It can confuse bees. Bees are vital to the natural world for the important work they do to pollinate flowers. They are naturally attracted to the sweet-smelling scent from flowers, but are also attracted to artificial scents found in body washes, perfumes, shampoo, air fresheners and scented candles. This confusion can lead to less pollination of flowers. One way to help is to choose fragrance-free options whenever possible, since even trace amounts of artificial scent can be transferred outdoors.