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Most women are familiar with a situation like this: your purse filled to the brim with a whole lot of stuff you just don’t need. You can actually do your part with nearly everything inside.

Are you inundated with receipts and business cards? Paper ones can be tossed right in the recycling bin. Thermal ones are a different story. They contain BPA, which can contaminate other paper. Either throw them out or shred it to use as packing material.

You can tell if your receipt is printed on thermal paper if it makes a mark when you scratch it.

Have old make up containers? Don’t trash them! Origins will actually take back and recycle any make up container. M.A.C. cosmetics will give you a free lipstick when you return six of their primary containers.

Who doesn't have old pens in the bottom of their purse? Billions of these wind up in our landfills each year. They can be difficult to recycle. Office Depot teams up with Terracycle once a year to recycle them responsibly.

Then there are old gift cards and canceled credit cards. More than 70 million pounds of these are trashed each year. Recycle them instead. The Earthworks organization is one place that can help you.

Have keys you no longer need? Metal is valuable and recyclable. Keys for Hope and Keys for Kindness are two organizations that collect unwanted keys for fund-raising.

You can also donate your wallet and purse when you no longer use them.