State officials in the Pacific Northwest are searching for ways to reduce the amount of high-tech waste ending up in landfills. The waste in Oregon has more than doubled since 1998, and it can be nasty stuff — computer monitors and televisions contain four to eight pounds of lead each. The officials are considering a “bottle bill” for computers, encouraging consumers to redeem a deposit on each PC by returning it to the manufacturer or retailer for recycling or safe disposal. Another model: The European Parliament has endorsed a measure that would require manufacturers to pay for the recycling of their products.
