She also got her office to join in the “Writing Instruments Brigade,” a recycling program through TerraCycle. Here’s how it works: TerraCycle sends a collection box to recycle sharpies, highlighters, pens, markers and mechanical pencils. After collecting five pounds of pens, you send the box in a postage-paid envelope back to TerraCycle, which in turn donates 2 cents per instrument to the Xerox charity of choice, which is the United Way.