Getting rid of the plethora of computers, printers and mobile phones we use then throw away is fast becoming a major environmental problem.

Up to 50m tonnes of “e-waste” are produced each year, with most ending up in developing countries such as India and China.

The BBC reported that many companies and governments are disregarding the Basel Convention, which is designed to monitor the shipment and disposal of hazardous substances created by e-waste.

Many countries now have laws in place to ensure correct disposal, making it illegal to throw used electronic equipment into landfill sites as the chemicals they contain can be toxic.

However these laws are apparently proving too costly for many companies, who are choosing the easy option - shipping old computers to countries where lower environmental standards and working conditions mean cheaper disposal costs.

In a number of developing countries, there have been reports of discarded machines being burnt. Such methods can cause environmental problems and endanger the health of workers.

A typical computer monitor can contain more than 6% lead by weight, a bio-accumulative substance that concentrates itself in the brain. Cadmium, a poisonous substance, is found to accumulate in the bone structure impairing development in the young - of particular concern in the developing world, where child labour is common. There are up to thirty-eight separate chemicals built into electronic waste, making the potential health hazards great.

The importance of disposing e-waste is very important, as many of the components can be recycled and new laws in Europe and the state of California are ensuring the industry take responsibility for the correct procedures of disposal. The Economist reported that Greenpeace has recently named Apple as one of the worst offenders as well as Motorola and Panasonic.

In the European Union, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) monitors the use of toxic materials in new electronic products sold in the EU and in California, mobile phone retailers must take back and recycle old phones that have been sold.

Many electronic companies are offering recycling schemes and withdrawing toxic chemicals in prevention of hazardous e-waste but this is not enough according to Greenpeace, who are launching podcasts to raise awareness of the environmental issues caused by e-waste.