Computers fastest-growing waste

According to the New York Times yesterday, Americans threw out 2.5 million tons of “e-waste” last year, only 10% of which was recycled.

“Every old computer monitor contains about four pounds of lead, and other parts are filled with heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, cadmium and chromium,“ the article says. “They have toxins that hover in the air after incineration or leach into the water supply when buried in landfills.”

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh say there’s 60 million old computers in landfill around the US.

Six US states have passed laws which require e-waste to be recycled, and more are expected to follow in 2007.

[...] While this isn’t the only way to get rid of computers, and it follows scathing criticism of Apple’s environmental record, it’s certainly going to help get rid of Australia’s mountain of computer waste. [...]