When composting, the general rule of thumb is no cooked foods go into the pile. But that isn’t always the case if you have leftover cooked vegetables and grains. If you sautee or fry vegetables using pure vegetable oils, you can easily compost the leftovers; if you use butter or have other animal products like cheese on top, don’t. The same rule applies to cooked grains like rice, pasta and even bread if they’ve been prepared without any animal fats whatsoever: Go ahead and compost them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When smoke detectors in the home need to be replaced, don’t toss the old safety devices into the trash: Recycle them. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the majority of smoke detectors in the U.S. contain a minute amount of americium-241, a radioactive element that can take 432 years to decompose safely in the ground. First Alert, the leading manufacturer of all types of detectors, will recycle old ones free of charge. Get an account number by calling toll-free, 800-323-9005, and be sure to write “FOR DISPOSAL ONLY” clearly on the packaging when sending in your detectors. First Alert will recycle the plastic and remove the radioactive material for safe disposal.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you’re fastidious about mowing your lawn, this tip might be challenging for you, but try it anyway: Let the last few weeks of the mowing season pass without that weekly chore. Grasses, wildflowers and even weeds that grow wild produce seed heads, which are essential food for birds in the fall and winter months. When birds are making their annual migrations, they’ll stop to feed on the seed heads of grasses and weeds. When the ground is covered in snow, the tall plants will poke through and provide much-needed sustenance for a variety of birds. If you can’t allow your whole yard to grow wild, even a small section of unmowed lawn can help our feathered friends.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION