If you haven't already heard of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA), you should take note: The Epsom-based association is dedicated to helping people, municipalities and businesses advance their recycling efforts.

One of the big ways the NRRA can help is by offering backyard compost bins for just $40. If you've shopped around at all for compost bins, you might note that this is A VERY GOOD DEAL! (Full disclosure: This editor purchased a bin through NRRA last spring and has had great success with it.) More information on the bins:
• 80 gallon capacity

Only about 5 to 15 percent of the bugs in your yard are pests. “Good bugs,” like the ground beetle and the green lacewing, help control pests, says the EPA.
Be sure you need a pesticide before you use it, the EPA advises. Ongoing pest problems most likely are a sign that your lawn or garden isn’t getting what it needs to stay healthy, and correcting the underlying problem could go a long way in eradicating pests.
Here are some preventive tips from the EPA:
• Maintain healthy soil with compost and mulch.