Shocking reality about e-waste recycling

So 60 Minutes can be a little stodgy, but last night they debuted a shocking piece about the e-waste industry. E-waste, if you don't know, is the term for old computers, cell phones and other electronics that are filled with highly toxic materials.

Thought you could recycle that pizza box? Think again!

Figuring out which plastics you can recycle can be confusing. Most of us feel like we’re being earth-conscious when we toss something in the recycling bin, right? Well, it turns out you just might be doing more harm than good. How so? Fact is that if you include some unrecyclable items in your bin, you run the risk of the entire batch being re-routed to the nearest trash dump.

Via Yahoo Green, here’s a list of some common items that don't belong in the recycling bin, no matter what your zip code:

Eco-kids keeping parents on their toes

Immersed in environmentalism at school, in houses of worship and even via popular culture, a growing army of “eco-kids” are holding their parents accountable at home, reports the New York Times.

“I have very, very environmentally conscious children — more so than me, I’m embarrassed to say,” said Ms. Ross, a social worker in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. “They’re on my case about getting a hybrid car. They want me to replace all the light bulbs in the house with energy-saving bulbs.”

Ten greenest colleges in the nation

America’s institutions of higher learning are doing more than just molding and inspiring the bright minds of students. Many are also setting admirable examples of sustainable solutions to myriad problems.

Pressure is on to recycle water filters

Brita’s “Responsible Water” campaign shows a woman on a treadmill with a disposable water bottle by her side, with the tagline, “30 minutes on the treadmill, forever in a landfill.” The problem is that water filters cannot be recycled.

Prius not so green... for now

The Toyota Prius has been named the Green Car of the Year for the last five years by Consumer Reports, and the EPA says it gets a whopping 46 miles per gallon.
With gas prices so insanely high, the hybrid appears to be a great way for a driver to be friendly to the environment and lower her carbon footprint, but a recent report argues otherwise.