Keeping up good practices at work

(Geoffrey Whiteway/FreeRangeStock.com)

One day last week, I took a can of soup to work for my lunch. Once I emptied the can into a bowl, I threw the can into the trash then put the bowl of soup into the microwave.

As the microwave roared and rotated, I stood in front of it mentally arguing with myself. Should I do the easy thing and leave the can in the trash, or should I get it out, rinse it off, take it home and put it with the others I have saved for recycling?

I'd like to say I made the more eco-friendly choice, but I didn't. I kept thinking about how ineffective rinsing a can can be at removing the remnants of soup, and I couldn't help but think that the can would get soup all over the stuff in my "brief case," aka a cloth bag I tote around to carry extra stuff for work. And if I just carry it separately, everyone at work will think I'm some crazy person carrying around an empty soup can. So I left it in the trash. It was just one can, I rationalized to myself.

But I don't want to choose wrong again. It would be so much easier for me if my place of employment had a recycling program, but since it doesn't and that's not likely to change, I have to be willing to either get my "brief case" a little dirty or figure out a work around.

I've opted for the work around. I'm going to carry a paper bag within my "brief case" for carrying home any food or soda cans.

And should I forget the bag one day, I need to just get over any weirdness I might feel about carrying around an empty can.