These apps help you stop junk mail, live "greener"

Your smartphone or tablet can become a tool for cutting household waste and making choices that are better for the environment and perhaps your health.
Apps for “green” living are becoming more popular and useful. These are worth a try:
PaperKarma makes it easier to stop junk mail from filling your mailbox, your home and ultimately the landfill. Take a photo of the pesky mailer you want to stop. PaperKarma goes to work to remove you from the mailing list.
Good Guide gives you ratings on eco-friendly products, including shampoos, cosmetics and cleaning products. Scan the bar code to see pros and cons for the contents.
iRecycle helps you find places and ways to recycle more than 350 materials. Batteries, construction waste, household items, and garden and hazardous waste are some of the items it can help with.
Go Green, shown at left, offers tips for a greener lifestyle, with a new idea popping up each time you open the app. Also get a “green” rating for yourself, based on your habits.
Sierra Club Trail Explorer has information on more than 40,000 trails in North America. Use the app to compile trail lists and write reviews. With an account on AllTrails.com, you can also sync to GPS.

Mark your calendar
The Greater Charlotte Home & Landscape Show will be Jan. 23-25 at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, 4751 N.C. 49, Concord. Jason Cameron, host for DIY Network’s “Sledgehammer,” and “Desperate Landscapes,” will host free seminars. www.charlottehomeandlandscapeshow.com.
Karen’s blog: http://homelifeclt.blogspot.com; on Twitter: @sullivan_kms