US and corporate officials have been tracking the amounts of electronic waste (dubbed e-waste) and are reaching alarming confusions. If current trends continue, Americans will discard 400 million electronic units a year by 2010.
Much of e-Waste is classified as hazardous because it contains carcinogens like beryllium metal and lead as well as neurotoxins. These materials are making their way into the air and waterways of the nation.
40% of lead in landfills comes from e-Waste. The US used to send most thrown out electronic products to China where it was scrapped. Now calls are being made for an e-waste recycling strategy to counter this ever growing problem.
