LaughAtlantis

There are, as far as I can see it, three approaches to recycling.

1. The Whatever Recycler - This is the most common choice, I think. You have blue bins. There they are, sitting outside where blue bins go. You have an empty bottle or can. You toss it in the bin because hey, it's there. You may occasionally exert the energy to consciously get the recyclables into their bin but if not, the world won't fall apart because of one can in your regular trash.

2. The Rabid Recycler - This type will recycle anything and everything - not just soda cans and beer bottles but laundry detergent containers and pickle jars and Spaghetti-o cans and piles of newspapers carefully tied with biodegradable twine. Perhaps they even have compost heaps. They must be careful, however, because the line between Rabid Recycler and the Recycling Nazi is fine indeed. If they are happy to berate people for not recycling, they have crossed it.

3. The Non-Recyclabler. These guys just don't bother. They don't see the point. But there is a fine line for them too. They run the risk of becoming an Anti-Recycling Freak, constantly pointing out the pointlessness of doing it because it just costs more for recycled goods and they aren't any better quality that the regular stuff.

Personally, I'm a number one. I tried to be a number two for a while but I live with a hardcore number three. Sometimes the bother just isn't worth it. Oh, the shame.