Do Just One Thing

If you get a shipment that's full of Styrofoam packing peanuts, reuse and recycle them. Yes, Styrofoam packing peanuts can easily be recycled for shipping purposes, or they can be dropped off at local mail- and ship-for-you stores to be reused. But did you know they can also help deodorize a refrigerator or a musky drawer? If you want to get rid of a smell, fill a drawer or the compartments inside a refrigerator with packing peanuts. Let them sit overnight (or 24 hours, for maximum effect) to absorb odors. Remove and recycle the packing peanuts as you normally would. It really works!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Two reasons to shop for groceries from local merchants and not big-box stores: You're supporting your local economy, and you'll likely cut back on single-use plastic. Supermarket chains have a practice of excessively wrapping their fresh produce in single-use plastic. It helps keep produce fresher longer and protects it from the hundreds of customers who handle the perishable products. Local stores are likely to use a lot less plastic, which gives you the option to stock up without the waste.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's time to stop buying tennis balls to play fetch with your dog. Turns out the fuzzy exterior isn't good for them or the environment: The soft, fuzzy coating is made of plastic, and when its threads are shed from the ball, they become microplastics that can end up in waterways and/or ingested by your dog. Plenty of alternatives are available, but among the best are plastic-free tennis balls, which have the same bounce, shape and feel of regular tennis balls but are totally free of microplastics.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION