Go to any garbage dump and you're likely to see computer monitors, printers, stereos, tvs etc. popping up everywhere. Not only do these products take up landfill space, electronic circuitboard componentry and casings contain all sorts of environmentally hazardous materials.

Before purchasing electronic gizmos and gadgets, consider the following environmental hazards that go into their production and ask yourself - do you really need it?:

- Fumes from ammonia and acids
- CFCs, or chloroflouro carbons
- acid and alkaline solutions
- copper baths
- catalysts
- etchants
- aqueous metals
- plating baths
- metals, including nickel, silver, copper, lead

.. that's not to mention the electricity consumed in their production, nor the oil used to make the plastics and transport the goods.

The electronics industry also uses tetrabromobisophenol-A (TBBA). It's a compound to help make circuitboards fire resistant. A harmful byproduct of TTBA is Methyl bromide - a pesticide, acute toxin and ozone depleting substance.

Once electronic equipment has outlived it purpose, contact your local council for options for responsible disposal. Many councils can point you to a recycling program. If the equipment is still serviceable, rather than dumping it, also consider Freecycling the items.

Yet another option is to inquire with the manufacturer if they have a recycling program - a word of warning though; some companies' recycling programs simply mean that they dump the items in developing countries in massive landfills where impoverished people are then paid a pittance to strip out useful components - without adequate training or protection.

Do you have electronic equipment recycling tips? We'd love to hear them; please add your comments below :)