N.J. Beach Roundup: Among the record haul of 475,000 pieces of litter collected from New Jersey beaches last year were some fairly odd items, according to this Associated Press report.

What was the weirdest item recovered, you ask? That's a toughie. I think my vote would come down to a tie between the bag of heroin and the plastic cow. And, oh yeah, I almost forgot: the kitchen sink.

Six Feet Deep: The Kansas City Star posted a thought-provoking article today about recycling broken toys:

"Each broken toy has its place. Unfortunately, that place rarely is the recycling bin. I have yet to see a single toy marked with a chasing arrows symbol indicating it can be recycled. Most toys are made from mixed materials, usually some combination of metal and a mind-boggling array of plastics. Many of them also incorporate electronics. Most broken toys should be thrown in the black trash bin, according to the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation. Nonoperational toys with electronic components are e-waste and may need to be taken to one of the electronic trash drop-off locations in your municipality."

The article has some funny bits about that helpless feeling parents know too well: being buried alive in an uncontainable pile of playthings. I have two boys at home, and the Nerf weaponry arsenal they're amassing is becoming alarming. I suspect the FBI is monitoring our house. And that ain't the half of it. Matchbox and Legos and Floam, oh my ...

Pete Fehrenbach is managing editor of Waste & Recycling News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.