I started recycling when I was 18, and at the time, I didn't think about it much, the impact that it has on our planet. Over time, I have become more and more conscious of everything I do, and how it will affect the environment. If you think about it, every little thing we do either helps or hurts us and our surroundings.

Here are some ways you can feel better about your contributions, and maybe save a few dollars:

1) Recycle Everything. That take-out container with the Chinese or Italian food covered in sauce, rinse it out and recycle it. Peanut butter jars, salad dressing, all of that. Shampoo bottles, soap bottles, laundry detergent, and everything you can.

2) Use Every Last Bit. That tiny bit of make-up left in the bottle, or that little bit of sauce left in the container, use it all up! The more you get out of the products you buy, in essence, the less money you spend. In a single year, you could save yourself two bottles of foundation or two cans of sauce.

3) Add Water. Soap and laundry detergent are concentrated, which means a little bit goes a long way. Once you get down to the very bottom of the bottle, with a tiny bit left, just add water to make sure you use every last bit. This will also save you money!

4) Drive a Low Emission Vehicle (or bike). With the level of CO2 in our atmosphere, gas-guzzling cars definitely don't help but worsen the problem. If you live in a city with public transportation, or that are bike-friendly, you should probably just not have a car, but for those that need one, low emission vehicle types are: Prius, Fiat, Volkswagen, anything Hybrid, many Hondas have low-emissions. Ask your dealer, or there is usually a sticker on the car or a logo somewhere on it.

5) Use Ground Coffee Rather Than K-Cups. Think of the plastic waste made from these one-use coffee pods made of plastic. Everyone has a Keurig now, so it is unfathomable. Even the creator, John Sylvan, says he wishes he had never created them. Even if you have a Keurig, you can use ground coffee with a reusable filter. You just fill it up, rinse the grounds out, and re-use. It is a lot cheaper too.

6) Compost. Many cities and towns offer compost bins for you to throw leftover food, coffee grounds and compostable materials in. You can also make your own natural compost bin complete with earthworms in your home or backyard.

7) Bring Your Own Re-Useable Grocery Bags. The new grocery chain, Aldi's promotes bringing your own bags. They don't give out bags, they cost 10 cents. So everyone that goes brings their own bags. Think of how money plastic bags they give you for groceries, that you only use once, then throw away. It's absurd because these one-use bags are going to sit for thousands of years in the ocean or a landfill. Most recycling centers don't even take plastic bags. Just bring a few paper bags to the store with you, and you'll be good!

There are many, many ways to be eco-conscious, these are just a few. Be good to the Earth, for it is our beautiful home.