The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says American consumers generated <A HREF="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=50486">nearly 2 million tons of electronic waste</A> in 2005. Gartner estimates that 133,000 PCs are discarded by U.S. homes and businesses each day. Only 10 to 15 percent of electronics are currently recycled, industry analysts say. The rest collects dust in people's homes or gets dumped into municipal landfills, where environmentalists worry toxic chemicals can leak out.

The computer industry is ramping up its campaign against electronic waste, a dangerous byproduct of technology's relentless expansion. HP and Dell, which together sell more than half the country's PCs, are earning praise from environmentalists for using more eco-friendly components and recycling their products when consumers discard them.