Listen in RealAudio

Consumers wanting to ditch old printers, PCs or other electronics gear made by Dell Computer will soon be able to recycle them for free. Chairman Michael Dell announced the new policy yesterday.

Under Dell's previous policy consumers could only get free recycling of any brand of computer or printer if they bought a new Dell system. The new recycling policy, already available in Europe, is set to begin in the U.S. by September and the rest of the world by November.

Industrywide, companies have begun adopting more affordable recycling policies to prevent cadmium, mercury and lead and other hazardous materials contained in many electronics from ending up in landfills as so-called "e-waste."

Guest: Elizabeth Grossman, author of the new book HIGH TECH TRASH: DIGITAL DEVICES, HIDDEN TOXICS AND HUMAN HEALTH