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More than 20,000 computers and televisions were dropped off at Canberra's tips over the weekend as part of a free e-waste disposal scheme. There were line-ups at all three drop off points. Shipping containers at the Tuggeranong site was full by early Sunday morning. It usually costs nearly $40 to dispose of a computer and a monitor but thanks to Apple, that fee was waived for the two days

OLYMPIA - If you're wondering what to do with those unwanted TVs, computers and monitors stored in a garage or back-room, relief is here. E-Cycle Washington is a new program that started on Jan. 1. It allows free and convenient recycling of these electronic products. The makers of these products are providing about 200 collection sites around the state. State residents, small businesses, school districts, small government agencies and charities can bring television sets, computers (desktop and laptop) and monitors to these sites to be recycled. They will pay no fee for this service. There is no need to rush out this weekend - or even this month. E-Cycle Washington is a permanent and ongoing addition to current recycling opportunities available to Washington residents. Many collection sites will be open several days a week and some will be open every day. And the collection network will be continuously improved to meet the needs of the public.

In the new year, recycling your computer or TV will be free. A new program coming to Washington and Oregon will try to keep toxic chemicals out of the environment.">

The typical American home contains 24 consumer electronic products, the latest statistics show: Televisions, computers, cell phones, digital cameras, game consoles, plus all their beeping cousins. Holiday gift-giving doesn't just widen the stream of gadgets and gizmos. It makes orphans of the old stuff. Got a great deal on an LCD television for Christmas? Upgraded to a faster PC? Unwrapped a Blu-ray to replace that standard DVD player? Each item likely displaces another, leaving behind a heap of electro-rubble. Last year, Americans shoved aside an estimated 27 million outdated or unwanted televisions, and 205 million computers and chunks of related hardware (printers, mice, etc.), according to the Environmental Protection Agency. We crammed most of this e-waste inside a million basements, or stuffed it in the trash.

Maybe you just got a new TV or computer. Great. What's going to happen to the old one? You could sell it, donate it or recycle it. Just don't throw it in the trash."There are so many toxics in electronics it is very important that they be kept out of the landfill," said Tom Watson, King County's Eco-Consumer. He says those toxic materials include mercury, cadmium and lead. "In some of some of the older computer monitors and TVs, there are more than 4 pounds of lead in those," he said.

Notebook computer sales outpaced desktop PC sales for the first time last quarter, according to research firm iSuppli. Worldwide, PC companies shipped 38.6 million notebook computers in Q3, up almost 40% year-over-year. Desktop PC shipments grew 1.3% year-over-year to 38.5 million units.

'Analysts say going green has become a business plan for some of the biggest personal computer (PC) makers as a way to differentiate themselves from their competition, reports Reuters. The "green" talk is going over the top as computer makers spar with one another over who has the most "green" platform.' Discussion of some environmental claims made by top PC manufacturers, such as Dell, HP, & Apple. Environmental Leader, 6/22/09.

Gives information on the efficiency (or inefficiency) of energy use with computers. By the Natural Resources Defense Council

A new program gives hotels an option for recycling their aging television sets and computer monitors. LG Electronics USA Inc. and Waste Management Inc. are partnering to offer the service.

A Monterey Park company has been caught by federal officials trying to send 32,000 pounds of hazardous waste from old televisions and computer monitors to China in violation of federal environmental regulations. The company, ZKW Trading, attempted to ship two 40-foot containers filled with cathode ray tubes (CRTs) - the video display parts from televisions and computer monitors that are high in lead content - to Hong Kong

WALLA WALLA -- If your New Year's resolution involves tossing an old computer or television set, you're in luck. A new state-sponsored program, E-Cycle Washington, begins this year to allow recycling of certain electronic items free of charge. Items covered by the program are computers, televisions, laptops and monitors, although some businesses may accept other items as well. The program is open to private citizens, nonprofits and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Two local companies participating in the program are CEP Recycle and Walla Walla Recycling.

Dell is expanding its consumer electronics recycling program with Goodwill and its own tech trade-in operation, while the M&K Recovery Group says it harvested 15 percent more copperware from computer gear than it did in 2007. The companies detailed their latest activities on the e-cycling front in separate announcements yesterday. Such growth is welcome news in the drive to better manage tech waste. The U.S. is awash in used, broken and old consumer electronics -- from cell phones and laptops to televisions and sophisticated entertainment systems. The number of programs to recycle goods is increasing, but those efforts have yet to check the flow of gear that's discarded every day. Dell is expanding its consumer electronics recycling program with Goodwill and its own tech trade-in operation, while the M&K Recovery Group says it harvested 15 percent more copperware from computer gear than it did in 2007. The companies detailed their latest activities on the e-cycling front in separate announcements yesterday. Such growth is welcome news in the drive to better manage tech waste. The U.S. is awash in used, broken and old consumer electronics -- from cell phones and laptops to televisions and sophisticated entertainment systems. The number of programs to recycle goods is increasing, but those efforts have yet to check the flow of gear that's discarded every day.

Oregon and Washington have collected almost 5 million pounds of electronic waste since their free recycling programs went into effect in January. The free recycling applies to TVs, monitors and computers, both desktops and laptops. Oregon reported about 1.5 million pounds collected in January, ahead of the 12.2 million pounds projected for the year. Washington said residents brought in slightly less than 3.3 million pounds, establishing a pace that would far exceed the state's projection of 25 million pounds for 2009. Officials, however, expect the pace to taper off a bit. People appeared to stockpile a large amount of electronics while waiting for the program to start Jan. 1. "Our recyclers told us they were just inundated at first," said Kathy Kiwala, manager of Oregon's electronics program for the Department of Environmental Quality. "The activity continues to be strong but not like it was the first two weeks," she said. Oregon and Washington have collected almost 5 million pounds of electronic waste since their free recycling programs went into effect in January. The free recycling applies to TVs, monitors and computers, both desktops and laptops. Oregon reported about 1.5 million pounds collected in January, ahead of the 12.2 million pounds projected for the year. Washington said residents brought in slightly less than 3.3 million pounds, establishing a pace that would far exceed the state's projection of 25 million pounds for 2009. Officials, however, expect the pace to taper off a bit. People appeared to stockpile a large amount of electronics while waiting for the program to start Jan. 1. "Our recyclers told us they were just inundated at first," said Kathy Kiwala, manager of Oregon's electronics program for the Department of Environmental Quality. "The activity continues to be strong but not like it was the first two weeks," she said.

The winter holidays are over, and brittle Christmas trees and empty champagne bottles aren't alone in many consumers' trash heaps. There are also used computers, televisions, cell phones and other gizmos that have been replaced with fancier models. Those piles may be somewhat larger than in recent years, thanks to the imminent U.S. government-mandated changeover from analog to digital television broadcasting. The switch, which is slated for February, has prompted many consumers to flock to retailers for new sets. American households have, on average, about 24 consumer electronics products, according the Consumer Electronics Association. The winter holidays are over, and brittle Christmas trees and empty champagne bottles aren't alone in many consumers' trash heaps. There are also used computers, televisions, cell phones and other gizmos that have been replaced with fancier models. Those piles may be somewhat larger than in recent years, thanks to the imminent U.S. government-mandated changeover from analog to digital television broadcasting. The switch, which is slated for February, has prompted many consumers to flock to retailers for new sets. American households have, on average, about 24 consumer electronics products, according the Consumer Electronics Association.

Do you have an old TV, laptop or monitor? Now you can easily recycle it for free, thanks to a new state law. The E-Cycle Washington program requires manufacturers to provide recycling services for TVs, desktop computers, laptop computers and monitors at no cost to residents, nonprofits, small businesses, schools and local governments. "The law puts the responsibility of end-of-life disposal costs on the manufacturer, rather than the resident or local government. This is important because recycling is a very expensive process," said Terri Thomas, education and outreach specialist for Thurston County Solid Waste. Before, residents either had to rely on Thurston County's twice-a-year Community Recycle Days or seek out other options, usually at their own expense, Thomas said. Perhaps that's why electronics are the fastest-growing waste stream, she said.

Everyone wants to reduce waste, but computing equipment lifecycles are shrinking, and discarded electronics represent the fastest-growing waste category. Many states and municipalities are passing or consideration legislation to make manufacturers responsible for taking back obsolete products and recycling them, and companies can help by insisting on responsible recycling practices, buying equipment that meets environmental standards, and pressuring suppliers to get greener. Everyone wants to reduce waste, but computing equipment lifecycles are shrinking, and discarded electronics represent the fastest-growing waste category. Many states and municipalities are passing or consideration legislation to make manufacturers responsible for taking back obsolete products and recycling them, and companies can help by insisting on responsible recycling practices, buying equipment that meets environmental standards, and pressuring suppliers to get greener.

The Washington bill is what other states wanted,'' said Scott Cassel, executive of the Product Stewardship Institute. Requiring manufacturers to cover the collection and recycling costs will encourage them to design greener products that are less toxic and easier to recycle, he said. ``Here is a state that took a careful, methodical and comprehensive approach and considered various options,'' Cassel said. ``Now state residents will have an electronics recycling system that will become the gold standard for the country.'' A wide and diverse group backed the bill, which also had bipartisan support. Computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co., Seattle electronics recycler Total Reclaim Inc., and retailers Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Amazon.com supported the bill. But the bill was far from receiving unanimous backing from electronics manufacturers. The Electronic Industries Alliance communicated its concerns with Washington's legislation. The group, along with 18 of its member companies, such as Dell Inc., IBM Corp. and Apple Computer Inc., did not support the bill. The law does not implement a shared responsibility approach. But rather, it extends the manufacturers' responsibility to finance the end of the life of their products, according to the EIA's remarks to the Washington Legislature. Such a system is inefficient, the group said, and will result in increased costs for Washington consumers.

Keeping it Green E-Cycle Washington - Households, nonprofits and small businesses can recycle televisions, computers, monitors and portable computers FREE - ( see restrictions )

``The Washington bill is what other states wanted,'' said Scott Cassel, executive of the Product Stewardship Institute. Requiring manufacturers to cover the collection and recycling costs will encourage them to design greener products that are less toxic and easier to recycle, he said. ``Here is a state that took a careful, methodical and comprehensive approach and considered various options,'' Cassel said. ``Now state residents will have an electronics recycling system that will become the gold standard for the country.'' A wide and diverse group backed the bill, which also had bipartisan support. Computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co., Seattle electronics recycler Total Reclaim Inc., and retailers Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Amazon.com supported the bill. But the bill was far from receiving unanimous backing from electronics manufacturers. The Electronic Industries Alliance communicated its concerns with Washington's legislation. The group, along with 18 of its member companies, such as Dell Inc., IBM Corp. and Apple Computer Inc., did not support the bill. The law does not implement a shared responsibility approach. But rather, it extends the manufacturers' responsibility to finance the end of the life of their products, according to the EIA's remarks to the Washington Legislature. Such a system is inefficient, the group said, and will result in increased costs for Washington consumers.