More than 3.2 million tons of electronic waste is laid to rest in landfills each year.

Old electronics are a fast-growing portion of America's waste. They can present an environmental hazard if they are disposed of improperly. With an average of four pounds of lead in many older TV picture tubes, along with other potentially hazardous materials, electronics call for special handling at the end of their lives. Donating or recycling your outdated electronics encourages the safe management of their potentially hazardous components and supports the recovery and reuse of valuable materials. It also helps reduce the pollution and energy use tied to the production of new electronics. Finally, it can put a computer, TV or cell phone in the hands of someone who really needs it.

Get involved with Plug-in to eCYCLING — one of the many new efforts under EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge to encourage the reuse or recycling of old or unwanted electronics. Plug-In To eCYCLING provides excellent tips and resources to help you join this effort. It's smart, good for the environment, and easy to do!