kabbalahrabbi

Short answer: Yes, absolutely. But it depends if you’re really accomplishing something. Recycling itself is questionable because of all the energy that’s involved in trucks driving around picking stuff up and the factory that breaks down the recyclables. But your question as it pertains to things of this nature, acts of preserving products rather than throwing them out is relevant to the concept of “baal tashchis” which is an extension of the of one of the 613 mitzvot, not to destroy a fruit tree at war. Sefer HaChinuch says clearly that the a concept we can learn from this mitzvah is to treat every item in the world with respect and care. A truly righteous person would think twice before throwing out a mustard seed.