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Do Just One Thing
By Danny Seo
It's rare, but sometimes a wild bird finds its way in and ends up flying around inside your home or office. What do you do to safely get feathered friends back outside? First, don't create a panic by trying to chase the bird or capture it with a blanket or coat. The stress won't help the bird, and you're more likely to hurt it. Instead, find a window in its path and open it as wide as possible. Close the blinds and drapes on the other windows so the bird can easily understand the one way out. Turn off all the lights so the open window shines, and the bird will fly right out.
Never flush contact lenses down the sink or toilet. Whether you wear daily disposable lenses or reusable monthly lenses, they generate about the same amount of waste over the course of a year -- dailies create more packaging waste, while reusables require plastic lens cases and bottles of cleaning solution. To reduce their environmental impact, always throw used lenses in the trash and never down the drain.
Your dog's diet can have a surprisingly big environmental impact. Choosing foods made with lower-impact proteins like chicken, sustainably sourced fish or even insect-based proteins (cricket and grubs) can significantly reduce the resources needed to produce pet food. And whenever possible, buy kibble in the largest bag your dog can finish while it's still fresh -- it cuts down on single-use packaging and usually saves money, too.
Even small actions in caring for your dog can have an impact. Choose certified compostable waste bags made from plant-based materials instead of traditional plastic bags. Replace disposable pee pads with washable, reusable training pads or sustainable options made from materials like bamboo. For indoor accidents, reach for old towels, rags or repurposed fabric scraps instead of paper towels to cut down on household waste.
Even if there are recycling bins at parks or other outdoor recreational areas you are visiting, consider taking your recyclable trash home with you instead. Wild animals can't tell the difference between trash cans and recycling bins, so they'll root through both. Glass and plastic containers that once held snacks can be tempting to animals, possibly causing them to get stuck inside with no way to escape. Taking these containers home is a good way to help keep animals safe.
You may have heard that you should not store ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator and that you should keep them at room temperature right on the kitchen countertop instead. But what do you do if you have a bumper crop of ripe tomatoes? To extend the shelf life of a ripe tomato, put it in the refrigerator. The chill will prevent it from ripening more. When you're ready to enjoy it, bring it out of the fridge and let it warm back up to room temperature. It'll taste like you just picked it from the garden.
Empty prescription bottles are typically made from recyclable No. 5 plastic (polypropylene), but they usually cannot go into your curbside recycling bin. Their small size often causes them to fall through sorting equipment, and many recycling facilities only accept rigid plastics larger than about 3 inches. Instead, ask your local pharmacy if they participate in bottle take-back programs. Before recycling, remove labels with personal information and make sure bottles are clean and completely empty.