THURSDAY TIPS

* According to waste management company Republic Services, approximately 30% of what Americans place in their curbside recycling bins does not belong there, including greasy pizza boxes, wet cardboard, plastic bags, foodtainted materials, and even bowling balls and garden hoses. Meanwhile, only one in four plastic bottles is recycled.

* Paper lunch bags make excellent receptacle for cat litter waste. They are much more environmentally friendly than plastic bags, and can be folded down and placed directly into an outside trash can. The bags are easily stored near the litter box, because they lay flat.

* “Use a slotted spoon to separate eggs. The whites go through; the yolk does not.” — Y.E. in Utah

* Do you need to go to a fancy liquor store for simple syrup? No way! Simply mix equal parts sugar and water, bring to a simmer and store in the fridge in a covered jar. Use in drink recipes and to sweeten iced tea.

* “Wrap lint from your dryer in 6 inches of wax paper. Roll it up 1 inch on both ends and you have the perfect fire starter.” — M.K. in Michigan

* Scoop up this trick when cooking scallops: Refrigerate uncovered for about 30 minutes before they will hit the pan or grill. This will help to dry out the surface, giving you a good sear instead of a steam. Make sure your pan is hot, and don’t leave the stove or grill, because scallops don’t take more than 1 1/2 minutes per side.

* If you have wood floors, you might already know about felt furniture pads, the little selfstick felt circles you can add to the legs of furniture to reduce scratches on your floors. You might not know that these same pads can reduce scuff marks that appliances make on countertops. It also makes it easier to scoot around a heavy mixer or other appliance.

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