The Sun Bay Paper Page 3 April 8, 2022 - April 14, 2022 It can be nearly impossible to tell from just taste and smell if the water coming out of your tap is safe to drink. The good news is, if your home uses public or municipal water lines, your water provider can give test results for the water for free. Just look up the number on your water bill and call them up. Public water must be tested on a regular basis, and the company must offer customers something called a Consumer Confidence Report, which details the results of the testing. Many of these reports can also be found on the Environmental Protection Agency's website, epa.gov. Once you open a tin can containing food like tomato paste, fruit or sardines, you may think it's fine to cover the opening with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in the fridge. But once a tin can is open, it's not a safe food storage vehicle. Bacteria can grow along the edges of the can in no time at all, and highly acidic foods can take on a metallic taste. If you have leftover ingredients after opening a can, transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Then be sure to rinse and toss the can in the recycling bin. These days, many people are going back to raising their own chickens, so they have an ample supply of free-range, organic eggs in their own backyard. (this is a good idea, even if you are not a Survivalist) But ask anyone who has done this, and they will tell you there are times when the supply far exceeds the demand. Whether you raise chickens or not, if you find yourself with an extra supply of eggs (maybe they were on sale), do two things to extend the life. First, use a pencil to mark the eggs with the date you collected them; use the older eggs first. Second, since eggshells are porous, you can coat them with vegetable oil if you aren't planning to use them right away. This creates an airtight barrier and keeps the insides of the eggs fresher for longer. Fresh Eggs When it comes to recycling your cans, bottles and boxes at home, the most commonly recycled plastics are the ones marked with a No. 1 or No. 2. But there are certain No. 1marked plastics -- specifically black plastic microwavable trays -- that are most likely NOT recyclable. The distinction is simple: It's usually marked No. 1s, not just No. 1. This is a different grade of plastic resin that is harder to recycle. Your trash provider should be able to tell you if they accept No. 1s plastics, but if in doubt, just toss it Just Toss It The most fuel-efficient way to travel by plane is to go directly from your departure city to your destination without any connecting flights or stops. Often, when booking a ticket online, you'll notice there are flight options that appear to be "direct," but be sure to doublecheck: A "direct" flight is not necessarily a "nonstop" one. Some direct flights mean the plane will stop at a different destination to deplane and accept passengers, continuing on to your final destination. Only nonstop flights go without stopping. Danny Seo Direct or Non-Stop When moving into a new home, one of the biggest hassles can be finding cardboard boxes, assembling them and hoping they're treated gently during the big move. Then, after you move, you're stuck with cardboard boxes that need to be broken down before recycling. Many moving companies are getting rid of cardboard altogether and switching to plastic crates. These crates are sturdier and can protect your belongings better. Plus, they are reusable by the companies, which means less waste, too. The next time you move, look into companies that rent them (like Rentacrate, Bungo Box, Lend A Box, U-Haul, Better Than Boxes and Redi-Box,) or see if your moving company can provide crates as a green alternative Rent Moving Boxes Rinse and Toss Drinkable Tap Water
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