This is not something that is done where I work. But at home, I do recycle cans, not necessarily to be environmentally friendly, but if I throw a can away, to me, that's like throwing money in the trash. So when I get so many, I take them to the nearest recycling center.

I also reuse the plastic bags you get from the grocery store to line my little trashcans around the house with. It just makes sense. Why be wasteful when you don't have to?

"Hey, Ole. Don't throw that plastic bottle into the wastebasket. Take it home, have Lena put it in the dishwasher, and then put it in the plastic recycle container."

"What's that, Ole?"

"Well blow it out of yours too, and I hope it aggravates your hemorrhoids!"

Advocating anything at work, other than say "work," can get very dicey, very quickly.  This includes your child's bake sale, raising money for a worthy cause, and yes, political or environmental lobbying.  There's lots of worthy causes out there - I just don't like to be bugged about them when I'm working.

Of all the choices I have for things to fight with my boss about, this doesn't come close to making the cut.

If you can get through to your selfish, apathetic co-workers, then sure. In most cases, this isn't successful, however.

Sure.Why not?

We recycle. Unfortunately, there's not all that much to recycle. Fortunately, that means we don't waste many supplies either!

My workplace already has recycling, which is a good thing when we go through a LOT of paper. Sad thing is, I've worked for places that HAD a recycling program, but didn't use it. Go figure, it was a state job, too.