Do Just One Thing

According to one of the largest waste and recycling haulers in the country, there's one major no-no when you recycle at home: Never recycle anything smaller than a credit card. Republic Services says while it's tempting to be a good recycler and keep every little piece out of the landfill, small things like shredded paper, bottle caps, pieces of cardboard and metal tabs can muck up recycling machines. When they do, it slows the process down and causes more harm than good. Toss any small things in the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's unfortunate when a large tree on your property dies, but you don't need to knock it down right away. Trees that are in the early stages of decay offer a real benefit to wildlife. Bats -- which eat thousands of insects in a single night -- love to roost in dying trees. Leaving a dying tree up for a year or two when it isn't an immediate hazard can give bats the perfect habitat and keep the insects in your yard in check, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you're shopping for gifts in stores during the holiday season, one thing you can do to reduce waste is bring your own reusable bags. In the past, retailers often discouraged customers from bringing in their own bags due to the potential for theft. But times have changed, and almost every retailer now accepts and even encourages the use of reusable bags. Not only are they a convenient way for you to consolidate items and carry them throughout the store with ease, but you'll also help cut back on waste.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION