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Francisco: Ari Michelson. Cover image (Earth): Getty Images.

Y O U R WAY The editors of Good Housekeeping keep a finger on the pulse of how to maintain a sustainable household. The Green Good Housekeeping Seal was introduced in 2009 by our Good Housekeeping Institute, a state-of-the-art laboratory in New York City staffed by scientists and engineers to help consumers sift through the confusing clutter of “green” claims on hundreds of products and make more environmentally responsible choices.

In evaluating products that apply for the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, the GH Institute reviews and verifies a wide range of data related to their measurable environmental impact.

Reduction of water and energy use in manufacturing and in product usage, ingredient and product safety, reduction in packaging and the brand’s corporate social responsibility are among many factors considered. This guide goes beyond just our Green Seal to give you our magazine’s best tips and tricks to keep your entire home as Earth-friendly as it can be. Follow this advice, and you can feel better about your household — as well as the entire world.

TA B L E O F CO NT E NTS A FOOLPROOF G U I D E TO S U S TA I N A B L E L I V I N G , p. 2 D E T OX YO U R H O M E , p. 6

H OW TO G E T R I D O F MOST ANY THING,

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ALL ABOUT CO M P OST I N G ,

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Jane Francisco

Editor in Chief, Good Housekeeping

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A FO O L P RO O F G U IDE TO

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” is just the beginning

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Plant (this page): Danielle Daly. Recycling symbol (opposite page): Getty Images.

S U S TA I N A B L E LIVING

W

e hear a lot of scary stuff these days about the impact modern living has on our planet, but the good news is that there are countless things you can do to live a more Earth-friendly lifestyle.

Just about anything you do provides an opportunity to practice sustainable living, including what you buy, what you eat, how much garbage you create, the transportation methods you use and the charities you support.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, sustainability is important to everything we do, and we've built a unique expertise on the topic.

In 2009 we launched the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, and we created GH’s Sustainable Innovation Awards in 2019. We also host an annual Raise the Green Bar sustainability summit to help teach people how to make smarter choices. Caring for the planet is a top priority for us, and we want to make it easy for you to get on board.

What is sustainable living?

Living a more sustainable life starts with understanding that sustainability is a broad term that can be defined in many ways.

But generally speaking, it refers to a lifestyle that avoids depleting the earth's natural resources by reducing demand for water, energy, trees and fossil fuels. It means making an effort to create less waste, and it prioritizes the use of renewable resources and minimal consumption. It can also be defined as “the practice of making sure we don't deplete the earth’s natural resources while maintaining a strong economy for future generations,” says Good Housekeeping's sustainability director, Birnur Aral, Ph.D. Put another way,

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this style of living is all about making healthier choices for our planet and the people who live on it. Examples include buying products made from recycled materials and making sure your home isn’t overusing water and energy. There’s also a growing connection between social good and environmental sustainability, and many organizations are increasingly tying together traditional sustainability efforts with mission-based work centered on a specific problem or issue.

Why is it so important?

Living a more sustainable life is better for the health of the planet and all the living things that inhabit it, including humans. Living this way can mean less pollution, fewer greenhouse gases,

less waste, healthier oceans and forests and so much more. Plus, as more people make the switch to more planet-friendly living, more companies work harder to follow sustainable practices during manufacturing and more policymakers advocate improved environmental practices. The bottom line: Sustainable living is about doing whatever you can to reduce your personal contribution to carbon emissions, natural resource depletion, water and chemical use and waste accumulation while striving to make the earth a better place for all living things.

SI MPLE WAYS TO

l ive a mo re eco- f riendly l ifest yle 1.

START

SMALL — BUT START NOW. One of the most important things to know as you transition into more sustainable living is that little changes really add up — and they do so quickly. Don’t feel as if you need to overhaul your whole life at once.

Start with simple tweaks like switching to energy-saving lightbulbs, drinking filtered tap water in a reusable bottle instead of downing it from single-use plastic, buying fewer things you don’t actually need and being conscious of how you dispose of goods from mattresses to clothing and beyond.

2. GET SAVVY ABOUT SPOTTING GREENWASHING. Our GH Lab experts discovered just how confusing and unclear “eco” or “green” label claims can be. When we put the question to over 5,000 people in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Sustainability Survey, 26% of respondents said they believed “green” meant “Earth- or environmentally friendly,” 19% answered “reusable, recyclable or recycled,” 13% said “eco-conscious” and 10% thought it meant “sustainable.” Other write-in answers included “natural,” “organic,” “compostable,” “plant-based” and “healthy.” In reality, all these things might contribute to making a product more “green” or “sustainable,” but according to the FTC Green Guides, brands must explain why a product is green before they can legitimately use eco-friendly claims on their labels. Once you learn to identify the terms and claims — and spot the products that are impostors — you will be better equipped to make truly sustainable choices.

3.

RETHINK YOUR MODES OF TRANSPORTATION. Walking, taking the stairs and riding a commuter bicycle are some of the easiest ways to get around more sustainably. That's because they require no energy (other than your own!) and emit absolutely zero greenhouse gases while helping boost your cardiovascular health. Driving a combustion-engine vehicle, on the other hand, is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. If distance puts walking or riding a bike out of the question, public transportation and car-sharing are good alternatives, along with e-bikes and scooters.

If you don't have your own bike, consider the growing number of rent-a-bike services popping up in neighborhoods all over the country. If that's not an option for you, fortunately most car manufacturers are making bold predictions about adding electric and hybrid vehicles to their rosters.

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4. MAKE SMARTER SHOPPING CHOICES

Ditch single-use bags and bottles.

One of the biggest contributors to the global waste epidemic is plastic pollution. When you consider that an estimated 381 million tons of plastic were produced in 2015, it's no surprise that the sheer volume wreaks havoc on the health of global wildlife and marine life.

The good news is that reusable bags are a simple choice, and using them is encouraged around the world through plastic bag bans.

Keep a stash of reusable bags in your trunk and a small one in your purse so you’ll always be prepared when you wind up in a store.

Tote: Mike Garten.

5. BUY FROM EARTH-FRIENDLY BRANDS AND COMPANIES.

“Corporate sustainability is thought to have three pillars: people, the planet and profit,” says Birnur Aral, Ph.D., director of the GH Institute’s Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab. “This means ensuring the health of employees. For a company to be sustainable in the long run, minimizing or even reversing its environmental impact should be just as important as turning a profit.” So do your research, and look for brands that promote sustainable practices like reducing water and hazardous chemicals used in production or that make their wares with recycled materials or sustainable fibers.

You can also look for trusted third-party logos on the label — e.g., EcoCert COSMOS for organic cosmetics, Fair Trade Certified ingredients and products that are GreenGuard Certified.

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D E TOX YO U R HOME Our room-by-room guide to breathing easier, literally and figuratively was conducted by the Silent Spring Institute, a scientific research organization studying the link between endocrinedisrupting chemicals and breast cancer.

You can take action in other ways too, but eliminating all potentially problematic contaminants is impossible to do all at once. Some of the tips here are easy to incorporate into your life starting today; others take a little time or money.

Go slowly, and know that any change you make for your health is a good one.

Kitchen: Mike Garten.

This page: Annie Schlechter. Opposite page: David Tsay.

Our bodies are naturally detoxifying machines, but our homes are an entirely different operation. So until the bathroom and kitchen can clean themselves, what can you do to limit the grime and the chemicals you are exposed to?

As with many areas of wellness, a healthier home starts with awareness.

One study found that people who read product labels to help reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals had lower levels of them in their bodies. The study

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K I TC H E N USE THE EXHAUST HOOD Cooking over a gas flame generates significant amounts of nitrogen dioxide and tiny particulates, which can irritate your nose, cause asthma flare-ups or give you a headache or fatigue.

An exhaust hood vented to the outside removes particulates and gases from your home. If you don’t have a hood, start saving for one. If you can’t go that route, open windows and doors while cooking to bring in fresh outdoor air.

CURATE COOKWARE For your next omelet, consider stainless steel, cast iron or enameled or anodized aluminum cookware. Nonstick cookware may be coated with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are considered immune hazards. If you can’t swap G O O D H O U S E K E E P I N G .C O M

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pans yet, keep the heat exposure below 400°F and open the windows.

Stop using the pan if the nonstick coating chips or gets scratched.

TEST OR FILTER DRINKING WATER Water quality varies greatly across the U.S., and public utilities test for few chemicals and contaminants. Lead can lurk in an older home’s interior pipes, and some contaminants aren’t yet federally regulated. If you’re concerned, get your water tested — especially if you drink it from a well. Water filters can excel at removing lead, bacteria and many other contaminants, says Heather B. Patisaul, Ph.D., associate dean for research at NC State University, but not all.

Save up for an under-sink reverse-osmosis filter.

to Healthy Cleaning for laundry products rated “B” or better. Vinegar also packs a strong antimicrobial punch in the laundry and can help soften clothing naturally, as can baking soda.

Instead of chlorine bleach, Silent Spring recommends lemon juice and oxygen bleach to brighten whites.

BEDROOM MAKE OVER YOUR MATTRESS The Princess and the Pea, circa 2022: The princess finds flame retardants in her mattress and refuses to sleep atop a possible cancer risk. Mattresses manufactured prior to 2015 may contain unhealthy chemicals —

call the manufacturer or check the label. Replace an older mattress with a flame-retardant-free one, or opt for a washable organic cotton pad as a layer between you and your existing mattress.

Also, don’t smoke in bed — that’s why flame retardants were first

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added. (Don’t smoke at all, actually!)

LAUNDER SMARTER Detergents and fabric softeners can irritate some sensitive individuals’ skin and may even lead to future allergic reactions.

Review the Environmental Working Group’s Guide

DETECT WITH DEVICES Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas emitted from oil- or gasburning heaters, furnaces and ranges. If it builds up to unsafe levels in an unventilated area, the gas can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion and even death. Install a CO detector where you sleep; one on each floor is best.

Place it about five feet above the floor on a wall or the ceiling — carbon monoxide rises with warm air. And get your furnace serviced regularly.

ADD PLANTS Fresh-cut eucalyptus, lavender and other flowers can provide pleasant, chemical-free scents.

And while whether indoor plants actually “clean” the air is being debated, the aesthetics can’t hurt.

B AT H R O O M

Bathroom (this page): Roger Davies. Bedroom (opposite page): Getty Images.

CLEAN YOUR CLEANING TOOLS Poison centers have had an increase in calls since the pandemic began as people have beefed up their cleaning routines, often without using the right gear or reading labels. In most cases cleaning can be as easy as using water, a mild detergent and a bristle brush. If you must disinfect, the EPA’s list of disinfectants for coronavirus differentiates those for porous (e.g., laundry), hard nonporous (as in a bathroom), and food-contact surfaces, advising how long to leave the product on each.

TURN ON YOUR BATHROOM FAN Is your bathroom more swamp than spa? Warm, damp conditions can breed mold, which can trigger a sore throat, wheezing or more severe allergic reactions. Look under sinks, on curtains and walls and in tile grout and caulk, and scrub away mold with soap and water. With your

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next home reno, install a bathroom fan or ensure that the existing one sends steam outside. In the meantime, wipe down walls after showering and air out the bathroom.

UPGRADE YOUR SHOWER CURTAINS Vinyl or PVC curtains may contain phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals associated with early menopause, found one recent study.

Swap out vinyl shower curtains for cloth ones you can wash regularly to decrease mold.

GET RID OF PESTS NATURALLY If you’ve got rent-free roomies in the form of ants, cockroaches or other pests, check for leaky faucets and damp cabinets — critters can’t get by without water. If you must use pesticides, choose selfcontained bait traps over sprays. Mix and dilute outdoors, and increase ventilation when using indoors.

HOW TO GET RID OF ALMOST ANYTHING On a streak with the spring cleaning?

We’ve got you covered.

T

he average American produces about 41/2 lbs of trash a day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — and only 35% of that waste gets recycled or composted. That’s nearly 140 million tons of waste going to landfills every year! While most of us know to put our cans and bottles in the blue bins for recycling, disposal can get a little trickier when it comes to other items such as appliances, electronics and old medications — which is why, when you’re getting to work on some spring cleaning, it’s so important to know how to dispose of these items properly.

Of course, before throwing something away for good, a solid first step is to donate items (that are in good/working condition) to nonprofits and organizations like Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army or other local charities, or list them on Craigslist, eBay or Facebook. But if it’s really time for items to hit the curb, it’s important to know how to dispose of everything in an environmentally friendly way; even a little bit goes a long way when it comes to being green.

So if you’re wondering what to do with those old batteries or outdated electronics you find as you’re cleaning out your house this year, here’s a handy guide on how to dispose of some key items as responsibly as possible.

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BOOKS

ELECTRONICS CELL PHONES: Before getting rid of your old cell phone, first delete all your personal information using a factory reset or hard reset option. (Check the manufacturer's website for info on how).

You’ll also want to remove or erase the SIM or SD card. Then you can trade in, donate or recycle your device, usually right at the store. For example, AT&T runs the charity Cell Phones for Soldiers, which donates devices to troops overseas. You can also look for e-cycling locations in your area, including private recyclers, nonprofits and other programs.

TVs: Don’t toss your old TV or monitor in the trash. Some old sets contain toxic materials like lead and count as hazardous waste. Best Buy, LG, Vizio, Samsung and Sony all offer TV-recycling programs (in-store, event, drop-off site and haul-away options). You can also try contacting your local sanitation department for guidance.

LAPTOPS AND COMPUTERS: Check out Dell Reconnect, World Computer Exchange and eBay for Charity if you’re interested in donating your device. As with TVs, you’ll want to recycle these responsibly, so get in touch with the manufacturer or retailer to see if it will help out.

Bins (opposite page): Getty Images.

BATTERIES Batteries of all types can be recycled. According to Duracell, regular single-use alkaline batteries (such as ones that power remotes) can safely go in the trash everywhere except California; however, a more eco-friendly option is to recycle them at community programs, workplaces or nearby recycling centers that accept them. Rechargeable batteries (such as those in cellphones and other electronics) should not be thrown out in the trash and should be recycled, as they may contain hazardous chemicals. To find a nearby recycling site for all types of batteries, be sure to check call2recycle.org and earth911 .com — and before you recycle them, make sure to place non-conductive clear tape over the ends or the terminals of each battery to ensure safe recycling.

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If you’re trying to get rid of some unwanted books, first consider donating them — many charities, libraries, schools and even prisons and shelters accept donations of used books year-round.

Some great organizations, many of which have nationwide drop-off locations, include Better World Books, Books for Soldiers, Books for Africa, and many secondhand stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army take books too. You can also try selling them on sites like Amazon and BookScouter, especially if they are textbooks.

Books that are battered beyond hope sometimes can be recycled.

According to earth911.com, you can recycle an entire book if it’s a paperback, but if you’re trying to recycle a hardcover book, you’ll need to remove the binding first. And remember that if a book has gotten wet (or if the pages have turned tan or brown), it should be thrown away with your regular trash, as this damage unfortunately makes the material nonrecyclable.

COFFEE PODS

CLEANING PRODUCTS Here’s a little secret: The best way to dispose of cleaning products is to use them! If that’s not going to be possible, it’s important to read the labels

to figure out the right way to toss them — so be sure to check the bottle’s instructions on proper disposal. In most cases, water-soluble products (like bleach) can be poured down the drain with running water or flushed down the toilet, and solid cleaning products like bar

soaps and scouring pads can go in the trash. And of course when you’re recycling the bottle for any cleaning product that can be safely disposed of down the drain, be sure to empty out all the unused product and give the bottle a rinse or two before tossing it in the recycling bin.

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Some varieties of K-Cups, including Keurig’s own, can get recycled.

The company transitioned all its K-Cup pods to recyclable in 2020.

Check for a #5 recycling sign on the bottom before removing the foil lid and throwing that out along with the grounds (though the filter can remain). Then recycle the empty cup — though be sure to check locally first, as these pods are not yet recyclable in all communities.

Cleaning products: Getty Images.

If you love using your singleserve machine and can’t imagine a morning without it, you can take steps to eliminate the environmental impact. Nespresso offers capsule recycling at more than 122,000 places around the world. Visit any Nespresso boutique or partner store (including Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma) or order a free pod-recycling bag online (it comes with a prepaid UPS shipping label).

LIGHTBULBS

Some states and jurisdictions may actually require recycling lightbulbs, so check local laws before tossing these in the trash. As bulbs often break when they’re thrown away, they can release mercury into the environment. See earth911.com for info on how to safely get rid of these (and other hazards, like paint and pesticides) near you.

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES WASHERS AND DRYERS: If they’re still in good working order, donate them to a shelter or home that would likely benefit.

If you’re buying new laundry appliances, ask the manufacturer whether it’s certified to recycle your old ones. If all else fails, call your local waste management office to see whether you can leave them on the curb, or check earth911.com for more options.

REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS: Leave the disposal of these hefty appliances to the professionals. Contact your local department of public works to schedule the removal, or use the EPA Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) website to find a partner program near you.

Costs for this service will vary. According to the EPA, removal can cost anywhere from $10 to $50, but you may receive a rebate for disposing of your appliance responsibly. Score!

MICROWAVES: Some municipalities let you recycle a broken microwave as scrap metal.

(Electronics recyclers will do the same for a small fee.) You could also bring it to a bulk-item or appliance recycling event hosted by local authorities.

MATTRESSES

Some cities will collect a mattress if you put it out (sealed in a plastic bag to prevent the spread of bedbugs) with your regular garbage for bulk collection.

If you’re planning on buying a new mattress, many retailers will haul the old one away for you.

If a mattress is gently used and in good condition, you could try donating it to a nonprofit like Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army or a local homeless shelter. Just doublecheck that health department regulations in your area allow this. If not, try the site byebyemattress.com to find a recycling center near you, or hire a removal service like 1-800-GOT-JUNK to do the work for you.

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ALL ABOUT COMPOSTING I T C A N B E D O N E Q U I C K LY A N D I S N ’ T A S H A R D A S Y O U M AY T H I N K

C

Compost: Mike Garten.

omposting not only reduces trash in landfills, but also upgrades your backyard.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, compost is “organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow.” That means bigger produce, prettier flowers and a healthier garden can come at no extra cost once you start saving your family’s scraps and turning them into plant food. Follow our guide to composting so you can help reduce the amount of garbage you throw away. Read on for our best pro tips and tricks for making composting work no matter where you live.

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WHY SHOULD I DO IT? Composting is an effective way to minimize the amount of garbage your family sends to the landfill. Not only does this reduce the methane gas produced by landfills, which is a major factor in global warming, but it can also help control trash can odor in your home and reduce the amount of water you need for your garden, as compost helps soil retain moisture.

W H AT C A N I USE? Food scraps and yard waste may make up the largest percentage of your compost material — you can include a lot of items from your kitchen and your garden.

But other materials from your house like newspaper and hair are also fine to add to the mix.

FOOD

OTHER

Fruit and vegetable peels and scraps

Newspaper

Mushroom scraps Eggshells Bread, grains and pasta Coffee grounds and some coffee filters Loose teas and tea bags

Cardboard Dryer lint

W H AT SHOULDN’T I THROW IN THERE? While they are biodegradable, dairy products or other animal products (even bones) will start to smell and attract pests, so toss those in your old-school garbage can. The same goes for fats, oils and pet waste.

Also, if you have a diseased or insect-ridden plant, don't add it to the pile — it could contaminate your compost, making it unusable.

Hair

FOOD

OTHER

Nail clippings

Meat or animal bones

Grease

Brown paper bags

Dairy

Toothpicks

Chemicals Pet waste

Egg whites or yolks

Produce stickers

Grass

YARD

Fats and oils

Leaves

Diseased leaves or plants

YARD

Matches Cut flowers

Wood ash

Coal ash

Sawdust

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Plastic

HOW CAN I COMPOST OUTSIDE? If you want to compost in your backyard, learn the do’s and don’ts to set yourself up for success. Selen Nehrozoglu, a research assistant at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station in New Brunswick, NJ, shares her helpful tips on how to manage organic waste.

1. CREATE A COMPOST ZONE. If you plan to use a bin, make sure it’s convenient to access and that there is room for a lid to open.

Nehrozoglu says it’s fine to use any sealable containers for both indoor and outdoor compost storage.

“For indoor compost, containers with lids that twist shut have worked well in my experience,” she says. “They are easy to open and close while also keeping the scent contained.”

If you want to start a compost pile, choose an open area — you need at least three square feet of space — and scatter twigs

or straw to ensure aeration and drainage. Use chicken wire or fencing to protect your pile from animals such as raccoons (or even the neighbor’s dog).

2. BALANCE “GREEN” AND “BROWN” MATERIALS Whether you opt for a bin or a pile, Nehrozoglu says a helpful ratio for compost composition is roughly two-thirds “brown matter” (sticks, dry leaves or dirt) and one-third “green matter” (food scraps or fresh plant waste). Maintaining a balance is important because “brown” materials are rich in carbon, feeding the organisms that break down the scraps, and

“green” materials supply nitrogen, key for building the cell structure of your new soil. “As a general rule, I like to add enough brown matter to fully cover the food scraps,” she says. “I use a shovel to mix the materials, chopping down any more bulky food scraps like melon rinds. After mixing, I add a thin layer of brown matter on top.”

3. MANAGE THE MOISTURE. If your pile doesn’t receive enough rain, you will need to add water with a watering can or a hose.

You could also opt to add wet scraps when moisture is needed. You’re going for damp, not soaking.

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If you live in a very rainy area, keep the pile covered (a loose tarp is fine) so it doesn’t get too wet, which could cause rot and destroy helpful microorganisms.

4. STIR YOUR PILE OR BIN. Your compost also needs oxygen. Without air, your pile will start to rot and smell, so you’ll need to rotate and stir it. With the right mixture of scraps, moisture and air, your compost should smell like nothing but earthy dirt. Nehrozoglu says that for manual mixing, it’s ideal to turn the scraps with a shovel or a pitchfork every two to four weeks.

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If you’re using a bin, you could opt for a tumbler, which spins to mix the compost. Some tumblers include an internal rail that breaks up the compost to help with aeration. With a tumbling bin, follow the manufacturer’s recommendation: Most suggest spinning your bin every two to three days.

When turning compost, check for heat. The center should feel warm; you want to maintain an internal temperature of 130°F to 150°F. When the compost is ready to use, it will stop generating heat and look uniform and crumbly, like soil.

HOW CAN I DO IT INSIDE? Even if you’re in an apartment or a house without a backyard, you can set up a mini collection station right in your kitchen so you won't have to trash food scraps. See below for a step-by-step guide from the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

1. GET A BIN WITH A TIGHT-FITTING LID. Whether you opt for a plastic bin or a stainless steel version, make sure it comes with a cover.

Some plastic versions may absorb smells, explains Laurie Jennings, director of the GH Institute, which is why she uses an old stainless steel ice bucket with a matching lid on her countertop to collect compostable material.

2. LINE YOUR BIN WITH BIODEGRADABLE BAGS. While it’s tempting to reuse plastic bags from the grocery store, these aren’t biodegradable, and using them can defeat the purpose of your composting. Jennings

swears by BioBag’s compostable bags (available in three- and 13-gallon sizes) even after trying a number of more expensive brands.

3. STORE FULL BAGS IN YOUR FREEZER. You’ll want to replace the bag regularly so weeks-old scraps won’t start to stink up your space. Once your bin is at capacity, secure the bag and place it in the freezer (yes, really!).

This will make scraps easier to transport, eliminate any odor, halt active decomposition and buy you some time if you can’t immediately get rid of them.

4. FIND A LOCAL COLLECTION SERVICE OR DROP-OFF LOCATION. If you don’t have a garden for your compost, see if your community offers collection services.

Contact your local municipality or visit compostnow.org, which lists participating services around the country.

Some areas even provide at-home starter kits and regular curbside pickup.

Rules depend on where you live. If you bring your own waste to a transfer station, check there too: Many have designated compost areas.

If you live in an apartment or in a city without collection, you’ll

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likely have to put in a little extra effort to donate your compost, but it’s worth it, explains Birnur Aral, Ph.D., director of the GH Institute’s Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab, who is a home composter in a community that doesn’t have a collection program. “Every few weeks I bring my scraps to my daughter’s college, where they have built a composting bin,” she says. “In the summer, I bring bags to my local farmers’ market and give them to a neighbor who sells produce and uses the compost at her farm upstate.” It’s a little way to give back.

HOW CAN I USE IT? Incorporate it into your garden beds or sprinkle it on top of your soil.

Remember, compost is not a replacement for topsoil, but rather acts as a natural fertilizer to nurture soil and plants, so add it a couple of times per year for the best results.

GREEN YOUR PET ROUTINE Help keep the planet and your family healthy by making these simple switches to nontoxic, eco-friendly products and methods THE SCOOP ON POOP Not only will leaving your dog’s business where he drops it annoy your neighbors, but it can also spread pathogens. Animal waste carries disease, and rain can wash it into the water supply, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Never flush your cat’s waste down the toilet either. Cat feces can carry toxoplasmosis, a disease

caused by parasites that live on it. Instead, toss both in your garbage — use biodegradable waste bags to reduce the environmental impact.

Also, try a greener cat litter made of shredded paper, walnut shells or wood shavings instead of bentonite clay or silica.

CHEMICAL CHECK Some flea- and tickcontrol treatments contain

ingredients that can make your family sick.

An NRDC study showed that pesticide residue from certain OTC flea and tick collars, powders and sprays increases the risk of learning disabilities and cancer in humans.

Instead, James Lok, Ph.D., a professor of parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania, recommends oral treatments containing lufenuron

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SUSTAINABLE “STUFF” Choosing pet toys made of recycled materials can help lessen the environmental load — even if your doggo chomps through them on the regular. And when your puppy or kitten outgrows their gear or you no longer need any toys that have been gently used, unopened leftover food, pet beds or bowls, consider donating them to organizations that can help families that really need them. Animal shelters are also constantly in need of goods to help critters in their care. But call your local shelter or rescue organization before dropping stuff off — some feed their charges specific foods or have particular requirements.

e c o - f r i e n d ly pet care

SOAP-FREE SHAMPOO EARTHBATH NATURAL, $15, CHEWY.COM

WALNUT SHELL LITTER NATURALLY FRESH, $9, CHEWY.COM

RECYCLED -MATERIAL TOY WESTPAW ZOGOFLEX, $11, WESTPAW.COM

BIODEGRADABLE WASTE BAGS BIOBAG, $4 FOR 50, PETCO.COM Dog: Getty Images.

and nitenpyram, which inhibit fleas’ life cycle without posing the same risk to humans. Use biodegradable grooming products too, so as to prevent detergents from washing into groundwater.