Recycle at your Desk and How

Every Monday in our Eco Memo series, we offer you practical tips on how to green your work life. This week, get some hints on setting up a simple, compact, good-looking (or totally invisible) recycling station right at your desk.

When recycling that piece of paper or that empty soda can means a trip down the hall, it's way tempting to get lazy, so make keeping your work trash green easier and more efficient by setting up a spot to stash recyclables right in your workspace. Even if you're in a cramped cubicle, you can still sneak in a recycling station that covers the basics.

Recycling Paper at your Desk

Make a pretty paper recycling tote out of a basic cardboard box, and slide it in the corner, or under your desk next to your computer tower. If you don't have space for a big ol' box, try clearing out a disused drawer in your desk, and use that as a catch-all. When the drawer gets full, you can empty your 8.5" x 11" gold into the larger office recycling bin down the hall. If you're really crunched for room, you can even just put a folder marked "Recycling" in your filing cabinet, and file your waste paper there under "R" until you have a free moment to take the contents to a more permanent resting place.

Recycling Empty Bottles and Cans at your Desk

If a caffeine-loaded frosty beverage is your regular 9-to-5 companion, it's smart to plan ahead with a place to store your empty recyclable bottles and cans that's just as easy-to-reach as your trash can. If you're able to clear out a drawer for your recycling station, throw a piece of cardboard in the middle to use as a divider, and put paper on one side and bottles and cans on the other. Grab a small wastebasket at a home store, re-purpose an old or vintage cookie or popcorn tin, or even use a brown paper shopping bag (you know, the one you picked up when you forgot to bring your own reusable shopping tote to the checkout line) and slip it under your desk, or next to wherever you keep your garbage bin.

Shrink your Workplace Trash Can

Give yourself an extra-good reason to recycle more by switching out your regular trash can for a smaller waste basket. When you set up a convenient place for recycling and take away the luxury of a huge junk container, you'll naturally start adapting your daily routine to match your new set-up, which means you're not just making room for a place to pile your papers, you're making room for green habits that last.

Need proof that it's possible to balance being green and still be a supportive partner and parent? See how Ed Begley, Jr. does it on Planet Green TV's Living with Ed.