Instead of shoving all those food scraps down the disposal, build a vermicompost bin. It's easy, you get a rich compost fertilizer from food scraps and it's fun! Get the kids involved too. My 2 year old daughter sings to the worms while she dumps her food scraps into the bin at night. The link below is a pretty simple version but works just fine.
Recycling isn't just for bottles and cans anymore. Check with your local recycling company to see what you can include. In many places you can recycle broken down boxes, junk mail, magazines, and more. Think carefully about your trash, and recycle everything you can.
If you have stuff that you need to get rid of but don't have time to donate or have a yard sale, don't just chuck it. Check out Freecycle.org which will direct you to local freecycling groups. It's a great way to reduce land fill and put your stuff to good use for someone else. It's also a good way to find free stuff.
Don't throw away your tools' rechargeable batteries when they no longer take a charge. Take them to Home Depot where you can drop them off for recycling.
Rather than putting magazines directly into the recycling bin, pass them on to another reader. Many places appreciate "recycled" magazines (medical centers, senior centers, etc.) or just share with a friend.
Styrofoam peanuts can also be recycled by taking them to a packing store such as the UPS store or Mailboxes Etc.
Boycott styrofoam. Styrofoam (polystyrene) takes about 50 years to decompose, and is not easily recycled (they won't even take it where I live). It's pretty shocking that restaurants and places like Omaha Steaks still use it. Let restaurant managers know that the use of styrofoam is unacceptable.
The process for extracting aluminum from its ore requires between 6.5 and 9.0 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy to produce one pound. Recycling aluminum uses 95 percent less energy than making it from ore. A recycled can saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for up to 3½ hours. The link is WIRED article.
When you receive a package with styrofoam peanuts, don't throw them away. Dump them into a garbage bag and save them for when you need to ship something. Of course, you can also reuse most boxes you get, as well. This is probably one of the easiest and most efficient forms of recycling possible.
Tired of getting so much junk mail? Turn an environmental offender and anoyance into something good for the environment. Shred the mail using a office shredder, add the shreds to your compost pile and wet with a hose. The paper will break down over the next few weeks into beneficial compost. Your plants will love you for it!