"The keystone of our high tech revolution is rapid innovation which now brings new technologies to market every 18 months. The useful life-span of a personal computer has shrunk from four of five years to two years. For all its benefits, our renaissance of innovation brings with it the interrelated consequences of rapid obsolescence."

"Electronic waste already constitutes from 2% to 5% of the US municipal solid waste stream and is growing rapidly. European studies estimate that the volume of electronic waste is rising by 3% to 5% per year - almost three times faster than the municipal waste stream."

"According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2007 more than 6.2 million tons of E-waste ended up in US landfills. In a new report for the EPA, analysts estimate that the amount of E-waste in US landfills will grow fourfold in the next few years."

"Analysts estimate that more than 6000 computers become obsolete in California every day. They are either tossed out with the trash and subsequently landfilled by trash collectors - often illegally - or stored in attics and garages for a later day when they will be dumped."

"Between 1997 and 2009, nearly 600 million personal computers became obsolete. Almost two computers for each person in the U.S. Some studies predict that a large number of televisions will be disposed when high definition television becomes widely available. (Source: National Recycling Coalition)."

"Nearly two million tons of used electronics, including computers and televisions, are discarded each year. In addition, an estimated 128 million cell phones are retired from use annually, according to the EPA."

"Electronics often contain useful materials such as precious metals, glass, and plastics that should be recovered rather than buried in a landfill. For example, precious metals are used in computer circuit boards and other electronic components, and of course glass and plastics are used for TV and computer monitors. Recycling these products reduces the need to mine the earth for raw materials."

"Heavy metals and other materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and even PCBs found in many electronics can be harmful to the environment and our health if the products are not properly disposed."

"Each computer of television display contains an average of 4 to 8 pounds of lead. The 315 million computers that will become obsolete between 1997 and 2009 contain a total of more than 3.2 billion pounds of lead. Monitor glass contains about 20% lead by weight. When these components are illegally disposed and crushed in landfills, the lead is released into the environment, posing a hazardous legacy for current and future generations. Consumer electronics already constitute 40% of lead found in landfills. About 70% of the heavy metals, including mercury and other hazardous substances found in electronics can contaminate groundwater and pose other environmental and public health risks."