When it's time to take down a natural wreath made from leaves, branches or pine, don't just toss the whole thing into the trash. First, take it apart by unraveling the florist wire that keeps everything in place. (This wire can be reused for craft projects you take on later in the year.) Once removed, save the wire frame or place it in the recycling bin. Finally, separate all the natural material and compost it or bury it in the ground to naturally decompose.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Aluminum is a valuable recyclable because it maintains a high raw material value and it can be recycled back into metal products over and over again. When it comes to aluminum cans and foil, you can recycle both. For beverage cans, it's only necessary to do a light rinse, because the contents are grease-free. As for aluminum foil, you can recycle it as long as it's completely clean of grease and food. So if there's a food substance like cheese baked onto the foil, crumple it up and toss it away.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

We've been taught that plastic bottles that have a No. 1 and No. 2 mark on the bottom are recyclable, but there is one variety of plastic bottle marked with the No. 2 that should never, ever be recycled: motor oil bottles. The thick residue that remains in the bottle makes it nonrecyclable, and in fact, motor oil bottles that end up in the recycling stream are considered the biggest contaminant in the plastic recycling market. Toss those bottles into the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION