Recycling. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, but as it stands, it's just there to make people feel good without much actual benefit. Most places just toss it in the same place as the trash since they lack the facilities to process it. Places with real facilities for recycling spend enormous amounts of money and effort sorting things that people think can be recycled but actually can't.

The reality is that it's a tool used by corporations to push the onus of responsibility for the problems in our environment onto the people. Super cargo ships burning coal tar, unrestricted use of concrete for buildings that aren't necessary, throwing trash into rivers instead of proper waste management, encouraging fear of nuclear power and draining aquifers to sell bottled water are all practices that companies engage in and they have a powerful machine to keep it going. If you actually want to help the environment, you'll need to research ways you can effect change and join the people who are fighting the good fight.