*Recycling aluminum and metals saves 95% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum from raw materials. Energy saved from recycling one ton of aluminum is equal to the amount of electricity the average home uses over 10 years.

*Many idle electronics - TVs, VCRs, DVD and CD players, cordless phones, microwaves, cell phones, laptops - use energy even when switched off to keep display clocks lit and memory chips and remote controls working. Nationally, these energy "vampires" use 5 percent of our domestic energy and cost consumers more than $8 billion annually.

*In 2007, approximately 14 million Americans recycled their used cell phones. Today, donating or recycling cell phones, PDAs, chargers, and batteries has never been easier.

*Only 13.6% of the consumer electronic products generated into the municipal waste stream (meaning, that people tossed out) were "recovered" for recycling in 2007.

*20 to 50 million tons of E-Waste is disposed worldwide each year.

* 68% of consumers stockpile used or unwanted computer equipment in their homes.

*A ton of used cell phones (6000 phones) yields $15,000 in precious materials.

*Compared to disposal, computer reuse creates 296 more jobs per for every 10,000 tons of material disposed each year.

*Disposing electronics instead or recycling them creates excess waste but also introduces corrosive chemicals into landfills, which can seep into the ground.

*There are plenty of reasons to recycle your old electronics. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 40 million computers become obsolete and are discarded every year. However, only 15 percent of these computers are recycled, which means that 85 percent of them end up in landfills across the country. In addition to computers, millions more cell phones, computer peripherals and audio equipment end up in dumps. These electronic devices contain dangerous chemicals, including mercury, that can contaminate the earth.

*In recent years, the increase in electronic consumption has led to problems as they become obsolete. Filled with toxic chemicals like cadmium, mercury and lead, electronics cannot be land filled. Several states, the U.S. EPA, and many electronics manufacturers have taken on the challenge and offer practical solutions.

*Electronics waste is growing exponentially. Televisions are used on average for less than two years. For computers, it's three. Recycling, or "E-cycling," these and other electronic items is critical for preserving landfill space and for ensuring that hazardous materials used to make electronics are properly disposed.

*Recycling cell phones helps the environment by saving energy and keeping usable materials out of landfills. Cell phones and PDAs are made of precious metals, copper, and plastics-all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Recycling conserves these materials so they can be turned into new products.

*Some people support e-cycling for ethical reasons. This stance can be traced to the fact that much of e-waste is dumped in developing countries, and people disagree with the environmental and human health hazards that this presents. As an example, groundwater has become so polluted in areas surrounding China's landfills that water must be shipped in from 18 miles away. By this token, e-cycling helps the environment by avoiding pollution and being a sustainable alternative to disposing of e-waste in landfills. Another benefit to e-cycling is that valuable materials are retrieved from e-waste that otherwise would have been thrown out. Supporters argue that e-cycling saves taxpayers money,as the financial responsibility would be shifted from the taxpayer to the manufacturers. In taking part in e-cycling, companies would be motivated to use fewer materials in the production process, create longer lasting products, and implement safer, more efficient recycling systems.

*It's a small planet: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Re-purpose, and why not Rejoice?