I reached out with my left hand, grasping the cold door handle. Slowly and carefully, I turned the handle and pulled, just enough for the door to pop as it separated from the doorframe. With my other hand, I reached out, ready for whatever was about to come spewing out of the overstuffed hallway closet. If this is a scenario you too have experienced, then keep reading. We’re going to take a look at 10 items you probably have in your closets that could be reused, donated or recycled.

Staples Canada released its first quarter sustainability update and environmental achievements. The report highlights includes steady growth for many of the company’s in-store recycling initiatives, including battery and writing instruments programs. “Our recycling programs and sustainability initiatives have started the year off on a strong note,” said Leigh Pearson, director of facilities, environment and procurement at Staples Canada. “We are always looking for ways to help our customers and associates make a positive impact on the environment.”

With all the rules about what you can and cannot recycle municipally and continued confusion about the correct way to compost, it can be difficult to stay on track when you're trying to reduce your waste. After all, the idea that one person can help solve huge problems like ocean garbage patches, overstuffed landfills, and polluted natural resources can seem idealistic, even impossible. And it may lead you to ask yourself what difference you can possibly make by reducing and recycling your waste.

WILMINGTON – A cigarette butt recycling program launched earlier this year in the downtown district is expanding to Wilmington International Airport. Keep New Hanover Beautiful helped Wilmington International Airport procure 10 cigarette butt recycling canisters. Photo: Contributed Keep New Hanover Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, announced Monday it has expanded the program, helping the airport procure 10 cigarette butt recycling canisters for use by customers and staff at various locations throughout the facility. The group’s mission is to end littering, improve recycling and to beautify New Hanover County.

It's now time to dust off your lunchboxes since the back to school season is in full swing! This year, take the guess work out of packing snacks with Entenmann’s® Little Bites®. Entenmann’s® Little Bites®are made with genuine ingredients like blueberries, banana, and cocoa. They also come in perfectly portioned pouches, making sending your kids back to school a breeze!

When your growing-like-a-weed baby outgrows her infant car seat, it'll probably just wind up in the Land of Lost Baby Gear in your basement, destined to collect dust until you back up a truck to haul out all your old stuff years from now. But from September 10 through 23, Target will take that yucky old car seat off your hands, turn it into something brand-new and helpful for the environment, and hand you a 20 percent discount coupon for the next seat in your baby’s journey through the world of baby safety gear.

Ten cigarette butt recycling canisters are available at various locations throughout the airport, replacing sand ashtrays. KNHB will empty the canisters every week, sending the butts to TerraCycle, a company that recycles the waste into compost and hard plastic shipping materials. "On behalf of the Wilmington International Airport we are proud to partner with Keep New Hanover Beautiful on this environmental sustainability program," said Whitney Prease, facilities director at the Wilmington International Airport. "The cigarette butt recycling program aligns with ILM airport’s sustainable and green initiatives reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.”

Target is hosting their Target Car Seat Trade-In Program and will accept any car seats to be recycled and in exchange, guests will receive a 20% off coupon (good for the purchase of a new car seat, booster seat, car seat bases & travel systems) valid at any participating locations (excluding small-format stores).

You know we’re a Tom’s of Maine family, right? Both kids use Tom’s of Maine® Silly Strawberry™ Toothpaste, and Cassidy and I use Tom’s of Maine® Luminous White™ Toothpaste Spearmint because I LOVE spearmint. It both calms me and energizes me, and you need both of those qualities in a toothpaste – considering that we brush our teeth at least twice a day. Why am I telling you this? It’s because it fits right into our recent theme of transitioning from summer to school modes. Feel ready?

Everyone needs to eat, and kids love a treat. Pulling something out to snack on during little moments in their day and suddenly they’ll start talking. My favorite little moments are right after school, during homework time, driving in the car, and when all the other kids are in bed. The kids especially love having some little moments with just Mom when normally they should be asleep.