DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was scolded by a co-worker for putting trash into ... the trash bin!
The bag in the bin had just been changed a few minutes before. My co-worker pointed out that I was insulting the person who changed it -- that their work was "already being ruined."
I am a little embarrassed to say that although I am in my 30s, I have never encountered this etiquette rule before. What is the acceptable amount of time to wait?
GENTLE READER: Zero minutes. Because such a rule does not exist.
While Miss Manners would hardly deprive someone of the satisfaction of a job well done, she cannot imagine that a person who had cleaned up would want you to mess up the rest of the office by leaving your trash elsewhere.