One tonne of discarded mobile phones has about 7000 euros worth of precious metals.
— Ruediger Kuehr of the United Nations University
Story about a global public-private initiative is now available see 40 Million Tonnes of Electronic Waste. Describes global effort to reduce the toxic mountains of electronic waste and recycle increasingly valuable metals and components.
My related articles:
Is Your Old TV Poisoning a Child in China? Where Your e-waste Goes
Greener Cell Phones Thanks to European Laws
30 Million Lead-laden TVs Dumped on Poor Countries
I could probably help the earth