Despite how much is taken to recycle bins, a lot of it still goes to the trash. People put the wrong stuff in, they contaminate the stream with food items, etc.

I've resolved to try to buy drinks in only glass or cans; this does mean the boxes they come in will be a lot heavier, but cans and glass are two items that are consistently recycled.

Last year I started buying the paper envelopes with sheets of laundry soap instead of the big heavy plastic containers of laundry detergent. I'm sure it costs more this way, but sometimes that is how it goes. Trouble is, people in low-income situations don't always have the choice, so until more environmentally sound options are available across the board, it isn't going to have a huge affect.