There are countless ways to reuse, from back packs to fire extinguishers, so here to help you on your quest to help save the environment and your cash is a condensed list of tips on what you can use around your home. (Keep in mind that if you have items that you just can’t use you can always sell them at a garage sale, donate them to a community organization or send them to an exchange program.)

On average, Americans recycle less than a third of our waste. If we doubled our efforts and recycled 60 percent, we d save 35 million barrels of oil a year. The best way to get your whole family involved in the recycling effort is to set up a system that s easy to use. Color-code and label bins with pictures if necessary, and post instructions where everyone can read them. Offer kids the incentive of keeping the refund for washing out, organizing and redeeming the bottles and cans.

Pressure-treated wood is used for building and gardening. It is often seen in play sets and decks and is used to build raised garden beds. It contains chromium, copper and arsenic (CCA). Pressure-treated wood can release these toxic chemicals so care should be taken to ensure the wood is disposed of safely.