A new report by a coalition of five environmental groups found that 50 to 80 percent of all electronics parts “recycled” in the western United States are ultimately transported to China, Pakistan and other developing countries, where much of the so-called “e-waste” is either burned in rice fields or dumped in irrigation canals. According to The New York Times and a cover story in the San Jose Mercury News , these technology graveyards leach poisonous materials such as lead, mercury and cadium into the soil. Some factories collect copper metal and other metals from the computer waste, but this is done with little regulation – polluting local villages and exploiting worker’s rights (often children). Hewlett-Packard launched its own recycling program seven years ago after realizing that even the most reputable recycling businesses ultimately end up selling computer parts to other firms that ship waste to Asia. Micro Metallics Corp. in San Jose is one of the few companies to break down electronics parts under federal environmental regulations. The full report, “Exporting Harm: The Techno-Trashing of Asia,” can be found online at www.bam.org.