What are the specific environmental hazards presented by discarded computers?
— Jan Mitchum, Springfield, MA Computers are infamous for their rapid obsolescence. And most of the resultant glut of outdated computers and accessories ends up in the dump. Broadly known as e-waste, old computers get trashed right along with your banana peels and toenail clippings. E-waste can be a serious problem, because electronics devices contain many toxic compounds that can leach into surrounding land and groundwater. According to USA Today, the average PC contains five pounds of lead (to protect the user from radiation) in the monitor alone. Circuit boards typically contain cadmium, mercury and chromium while the whole package is housed in brominated, flame-retardant plastic. The National Safety Council reports that, by 2005, 350 million computers will have reached obsolescence, with at least 55 million of them expected to end up in landfills. Europe is leading the way in reducing e-waste, with all computer manufacturers required to have recycling programs in place by 2003. In
