When you need hydration or drinks on the go, the greenest choice is to fill a reusable water bottle. But if you want flavored beverages like sports drinks, coffee and tea, the next best thing is to choose the "instant" or powdered forms of these drinks and make them yourself. When you compare premade beverages in glass or plastic bottles to the mix-yourself versions, the shipping and refrigeration of bottled drinks has a much higher carbon footprint than pouches of powder. And while the pouches themselves are not recyclable, the packaging waste is significantly less than bottled drinks.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you're in the habit of clipping your fingernails and letting the trimmings go down the drain, stop. While fingernails are composed of organic materials called keratin and biotin, nails really do not biodegrade, so trimmings can clog drains and cause problems over time. And because they are so strong and durable, using a chemical drain cleaner actually won't break them down or make them go away. Instead, try trimming your nails outdoors, or just put the trimmings in the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The paperboard boxes that grocery items like cereal and frozen food often come packaged in are recyclable materials. If the boxes are greasy, soaked or dirty, they should never be put in your recycling, since they are a contaminant. Also, if the box has a small plastic window (often seen in boxes for things like pasta), just peel off the plastic and toss that part into the trash. And, of course, flatten the boxes so you have room in your recycling bin for other recyclables.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION