Last month, the Government Accountability Office sent Congress a report indicating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) isn't doing enough to ensure electronic waste is disposed of in a proper manner.

In 2006, more than 300 million pieces of e-waste were disposed of, with 80 percent to 85 percent ultimately going to U.S. landfills.  The remaining 15 percent to 20 percent are sent overseas for reuse or disposal.  The e-waste problem will likely grow in the future as the lifespan of many products remains short, and companies continue to push out the next-generation of technology.

Current U.S. law mandates that it's legal to export e-waste to developing nations for disposal, but EPA critics claim there isn't enough being done to protect the workers disassembling the electronics.

"The EPA regulates the export of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and CRT glass," an EPA spokesperson told DailyTech.  "This rule requires exporters of CRTs for reuse to file a one-time notification with EPA starting that they plan to export CRTs for reuse, as well as keep records demonstrating that each shipment of exported CRTs will be reused."

There is a strong debate as to how damaging the e-waste shipped overseas is for workers and citizens in nearby towns.  

"Most e-waste that is exported results in little or no adverse environmental or health impacts," the EPA said during the interview.  "To the contrary, most exported e-waste results in significant benefits in terms of sustainable development."

Moving forward, the "EPA is working with stakeholders (i.e., states, e-manufacturers, e-recyclers, trade associations and public interest groups) to develop a set of practices that can be used in a voluntary certification program to ensure the adequate environmental performance of those handing electronics, including recyclers of electronics."

The program will be operated by the companies working with the electronics, along with recyclers of electronics.  Hewlett-Packard, IBM and other companies have internal recycling procedures in place, and many cities and communities across the United States have organized e-waste recycling programs to reduce the number of hazardous materials going into U.S. landfills.

As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) begins to phase out analog television in favor of digital televisions next year, as many as 20 million analog TVs could be sent overseas for disassembly.