Any grease stains on a cardboard pizza box make it impossible to recycle, so do this to make your takeout eco-friendly: Ask for a sheet of aluminum foil. Have the pizza shop put the sheet of foil in the bottom of the box and lay the pizza on top of it. This does two things: It helps keep the pizza hotter for longer, and it prevents grease from leaking into the bottom of the box. A clean pizza box is a recyclable one! And don’t forget: Clean aluminum foil is also recyclable in your curbside recycling bin.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you have a problem with rabbits and other small animals digging up freshly planted flower bulbs from your garden, start collecting used plastic and cardboard berry containers right now. Dig a hole in the ground and place the berry container, insert the bulb inside and cover it with dirt. The container will create a barrier that prevents animals from digging up the bulbs, all while giving the flowers room to send out roots and grow.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When you invest in fine jewelry, consider the eco-options of your purchase. Mining for new gold, for example, is an incredibly destructive and non-sustainable practice that involves massive amounts of drilling and blasting to get small nuggets of gold. Instead, forward-thinking designers are now using recycled gold, which is melted down from old pieces and recast into new. It’s easy to find large selections of recycled precious metal jewelry online and in stores now.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION