Human Resources Season 2 Episode 9 No Ifs Ands or Butts

Tom wants to make smaller, higher-end products out of recycled cigarette butts as a way to increase revenue and reduce the cost of their current cigarette butt waste program. Rick and Ernie will need to change the current formula so that the recycled material is strong enough to make smaller products, while Stephen must find a manufacturer who's willing to use the new material. Rick asks Andrew for his used cigarette butts to test, but to everyone's surprise, Andrew reveals that he's quit smoking.

Rick knows how difficult it will be to create a new formula and is unconvinced that it needs to be changed. He is frustrated further when his first tests yield bad results. Stephen has had better luck and finds a plastics manufacturer who's willing to discuss using the recycled cigarette butts. Stephen meets with a manufacturer and gets the chance to test the original cigarette plastic formula. They try to make a soap dish sample using the original pellets, but it comes out misshapen. Turns out Rick will need to create a new formula after all.

At first people around the office notice the positive change in Andrew since he quit smoking, but when he starts to experience the lows, he becomes anxious and uses food to replace cigarettes. During a meeting about the price of the soap dish, Andrew's temper gets the better of him, and he storms out. Steph encourages Andrew to give himself a reward if he's smoke free for 30 days.

Back in the lab, Tom is not impressed by the quality of the plastic soap dish and pressures Rick to find that perfect formulation. After another failed formula, Rick has a breakthrough. He crushes the pellets to make them smaller and easier to integrate into the plastic. The manufacturer is pleased and confirms that they will use the recycled waste to make new products. Tom is impressed with the perfected soap dish and that Andrew has successfully been smoke-free for 30 days. Andrew rewards himself with a fancy fishing pole.