In 1965, there were 0.1 computers per 1,000 people. In 2004, that number rose to 715 per 1,000. It has only increased since then. The population of electronic gizmos is growing as fast as the world’s human population. Unfortunately, our silicon and plastic “friends” have a high mortality rate, and a very short life-expectancy—two years is the average for many electronic devices. No sooner do we get accustomed to a piece of equipment, when newer, faster, better versions become available. So, what are we supposed to do with all the dead “bodies”?

E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream today. Forty million computers are thrown out annually, and only 11% are properly recycled. The 67 million computers sold every year contain about 1.4 million pounds of lead, not to mention other toxic heavy metals. About 70% of the heavy metals found in landfills come from electronics. Look around your office—under desks, in closets, basements and storerooms and you will find it: The “Triple-T”—Toxic Tech Trash.

An old computer may be dead and gone, but its spirit can continue to haunt us in the form of lead, mercury, cadmium, chlorinated plastic and bromated fire retardants that linger for many years. Dumping it in landfills is a no-no. Sending it to a recycling program sounds good, but the Basel Action Network (www.ban.org), a not-for-profit monitoring group, has clearly shown that the best of intentions can be no better than walking outside and throwing the ol’ PC on the barbeque. “Recyclables” are often sent to underdeveloped countries, where people salvage a minute portion of the components, leaving the bulk to linger indefinitely.

BAN promotes programs such as the Electronic Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship. The pledge is for e-waste recyclers, and provides a way to find a responsible recycler in the US. To see the pledge-signers, go to: http://www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html. Pledge-signing recyclers are listed by state. Mail-in information is also provided. The Computer Take-Back campaign is intended to make computer manufacturers responsible for refurbishing and recycling their products, among other things. Learn more at: http://www.computertakeback.com/about/index.cfm.

Responsible management of E-waste starts at the point of purchase. Greener electronics are becoming more widely available, as are resources to help you find them. Check out Hospitals for a Healthy Environment and Health Care Without Harm’s “Healthier Choices for Electronic Equipment from Procurement to End of Life” (http://h2e-online.org/docs/h2eelectronics40504.pdf).

The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (www.epeat.net) is a matrix of criteria to assess and identify more eco-friendly computers. You can go to the EPEAT website, look up manufacturers and see their environmental rating. Approximately 20% of computers on the market meet EPEAT’s exacting standards. This program has been under development for a few years and just kicked off this summer. It is well worth checking out!

Let’s not forget the EPA’s Energy Star rating system for energy efficiency. Most computers actually meet current Energy Star ratings, but a higher bar is being sought, and should be in place in 2007. Check out the Energy Star website: http://www.energystar.gov.au/products/computers.html.

GreenMachine Shop (www.Greenmachineshop.com) offers environmentally-preferable computers built to exacting standards with the lowest possible amounts of toxic materials. According to GreenMachine’s founder, Thomas Schramm, a new European regulation, “Restriction on Hazardous Substances (ROHS),” effective last July, eliminates use of lead, bromated fire retardants, and other harmful substances in the manufacture of plastic used in computers, cables and connectors. GreenMachine’s computers meet ROHS criteria, meaning they are a very good choice for chemically-sensitive individuals. They are also ergonomically-designed, extremely energy-efficient, and emit minimal electromagnetic radiation.

I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t mention HIPAA compliance! Before you dispose of an old computer, make sure you review the clearing of hard drives with your E-waste recycler, or purchase software to wipe the hard drive yourself. You could be in violation of HIPAA if you fail to do so. And don’t forget about electronic media and their cases: diskettes, zip disks, CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVDs, video and audio tapes, game cartridges, DAT, DLT, and printer cartridges. Ask your recycler if they will take these also. If not, companies like Greendisk (www.greendisk.com) have a mail-in program for these types of E-waste.

I urge you to check out the Basel Action Network website and look at the photographs of villages with burning piles of E-waste—toxic materials that someone shipped to them! It is easy to just dump our stuff and say, “There’s no recycling infrastructure,” or “We’re too busy.” But if we’re truly committed to public health, we have to walk the walk. We have to practice responsibly and that includes the purchase and management of our electronic equipment. By the way, don’t forget to turn your computer off when you leave each day!

Janet Brown is the Partners Coordinator at Hospitals for a Healthy Environment. H2E is creating a national movement for environmental sustainability in health care. Jointly founded by the American Hospital Association, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Health Care Without Harm and the American Nurses Association, H2E educates health care professionals about pollution prevention, rewards the sector’s best performers, and provides a wealth of practical tools and resources to facilitate health care’s movement toward environmental sustainability. www.h2e-online.org