Even if your food containers are labeled as one of the safe plastics, always transfer food to a glass or china dish before reheating in the microwave. All plastics contain possible harmful chemicals, and when heated, those chemicals can leech onto the food that is next to them. Take-out containers are one of the worst culprits when it comes to plastics that contain toxic elements, so never reheat food in those containers.
Courtesy: SheKnows.com

There are so many plastic bags, literally floating around, that animals mistake them for food which causes them to die. Besides the fact that they are ugly, it takes them centuries to break down and when they do, they break into small plastic pieces that contaminate our soil and water. Basically, plastic bags never really go away. Big Green Head would like to see them all go away!

DID YOU KNOW?

• Plastic bags have been found in the stomachs of endangered animals including the leatherback turtles, harbor porpoises and black footed albatross. Ingestion of plastic bags can result in blockages, internal infections, starvation and death.
• It takes about 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100 million non-degradable plastic bags and we use 4 -5 trillion plastic bags worldwide annually.
• Plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade and contaminating our soil and water.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. Put your reusable bags at the top of your grocery list so you remember to bring them into the store.
2. Store your bags in your car.
3. Buy a small portable bag that fits in your purse.
4. Reusable totes aren’t just for the grocery store; bring your bags into any store that putsmerchandise into plastic or paper bags

Reduce/Reuse/Recycle - REDUCE the amount of plastic bags you use and always RECYCLE them.  If you reuse them, they will eventually end up in the landfill but in some instances it’s better than buying a plastic bag for your waste basket or dog poop.

If you're using food storage containers that are made from safe plastics, no need to do a total kitchen overhaul and throw all of your plastic away. It is a good idea, however, to start making a gradual shift over to glass containers. There are a lot of high quality and affordable options out there. The best are those that are made completely of glass, including the lids. When taking food on the go, try glass containers that have snug fitting plastic lids -- that are BPA and PVC-free, of course.
Courtesy: SheKnows.com

Dishwashers use very hot water and steam to clean dishes thoroughly -- which leaves us with sparkling plates and glasses -- but can unfortunately pose a problem when it comes to plastics. Just like microwaving, heating plastic can release harmful chemicals, so play it safe and wash your plastic containers by hand in lukewarm water.
Courtesy: SheKnows.com

Placing old sponges in the bottom of your potted plants is a great way to re purpose them.

The great thing about sponges is that they will absorb and hold excess water and slowly release it to the soil, essentially creating a home made self-watering pot. The sponge also holds dirt in (for those pots with larger drainage holes).  Here are some more clever reuses for household sponges. 
Source:  Good Environmental News Blog

You've probably seen those bins at your grocery store where you can return your plastic shopping bags for recycling.

What you may not know is that you can take your cleaned storage bags like sandwich bags and freezer bags to these bins for recycling as well, The Daily Green reports.

Most grocery stores accept a variety of plastics, not just their own bags.  Just make sure you rinse out the storage bags (if they're dirty) and tear off the "zip lock" portion before dropping them off for recycling.
Source: Earth911.com

Flip over your food storage containers and take a look at the small number printed on the bottom. If the recycling number is #3 or #7, it likely contains either BPA (bisphenol A) or phthalates (used to make PVC plastics) which mimic estrogen and can interfere with hormone levels. These can be especially harmful for still-developing bodies so, unless the container clearly states that it is BPA and PVC-free, the safest thing to do is to get rid of them. Canada and the European Union have already banned BPA use in baby bottles and many people, including me, are not going to wait around for the U.S. to follow suit. If you don't want to part with your plastics completely, be sure that your containers are either #2, #4 or #5, which are widely considered safe for food storage.
Courtesy: SheKnows.com

Reuse Toilet Paper Rolls to Organize Cables and Chords