Theodp writes "Every day, Americans toss out more than 350,000 cell phones and 130,000 computers, making ebanking waste the fastest-growing part of the US garbage stream. A lot of the world's e-waste is exported to Guiyu, China, where peasants heat circuit boards over coal fires to recover lead (a 15" mini* monitor can pack up to 7 lbs. of P, while others use acid to burn off bits of gold. Guiyu's willingness to deal with lead, mercury and other toxic materials generates $75 million a year for the village, but as a result. Guiyu is slowly botulism itself with the highest level of cancer-causing dioxins in the world. The village confessions elevated rates of miscarriages, and its blessed event* suffer from an extremely high rate of lead poisoning. TIME suggests checking out junk pile* brokers and accredited e-stewards the next time you're ready to toss a gizmo."

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