We know you're swamped for time. Between school, family obligations and your social life, who has time to spare? Believe it or not, there's a lot you can do even if a minute is all you have.

In a minute

• E-Blast Lots of people don't recycle because they think it's too hard, won't make a difference and/or is far too inconvenient. School 'em. Send them a quick e-mail on how to separate items for recycling and facts on recyling and why's it's important.

If you have an hour

• Express yourself! There's a million ways to do it online. We can't count how many websites are dedicated to recycling. Go check them out and see what you can do it: Spread your eco-knowledge by posting a "How to Recycle" (link) site on your Facebook or Myspace. Post facts on why it's important to recycle and what they can do. And if you're not scared of being in the limelight, start a video blog on YouTube showing the creative crafts you create using what most people would consider trash.

If you have a day

• Get up off your tail! Where do you spend your time? Seriously, really think about it. Are you an athlete? What about when you're with your friends? Is there a spot in your town that you guys love to hang out at? Go there - the field, the parking lot of the local mall, wherever! Look around. What do you see? Are there water and soda bottles from a game or last night's hang out party? Collect the waste and recycle it! This small deed makes a difference.
• Swap some goods The Freecycle Network is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and thus keeping good stuff out of landfills. So check out what people in your area are giving away. There's probably something you want to get rid of that someone can use. Then spread the news to your friends and famz!
• Write it up! Want your message to reach more people? Write an article on recycling including facts and myths for your school or church newsletter, even your local paper!

If you have a week

• Put together a fair Get people together who want to get rid of stuff but don't want to just toss it. See if they're willing to swap it for something useful to them. Do you know people who make stuff out of trash? Like jewelry racks out of plastic bottles. Bird feeders out of old milk cartons. Anything? See if they'd be willing to sell or swap their goods. Or maybe you have stuff you don't want to throw out. See what you can make, then sell or swap it.
• Hike it! Organize a Hike through a nearby forest, canyon or other endangered habitat. And while you're trudging through, pick up any litter you see. This way you can help clean up your space and protect the animals from our waste.

If you have a year

• Start something! Start a movement at your school or place a worship. Get people together and come up with a recycling program that works for everyone. Take it even further by starting a movement to have your school or church purchase recycled goods like paper and plastic.
• Think big! Rally your community board or local city hall to get in on the recycling movement. Demand that they print city documents on recycled paper. Write letters, make calls, send e-mails, have a sit in or rally! Get people together to make a difference.
• Plant it! Create a community garden. Gardening allows people to connect directly with the earth as the source of food and life upon which we are dependent. You can reclaim unused or mis-used plots of land for the benefit of the community by combining a clean-up with a garden planting.
• Celebrate Earth Day It's on April 22nd this year but it's an annual event so get up and get everyone in on the deal! Make it a yearly thing in your school, your church, AND your commmunity. What can you do? Anything that's meaningful to you and your environment: Plant trees, give environmental "hero" awards, hold an energy fair. The point is that you do something.