the "old" computers, mobile phones and other devices that are superseded

by the next new things? This issue has been high on environmentalists'

agendas for years. And it's soon to become a hot topic for consumers and

businesses in Australia as the government plans a stewardship program

for the recycling of e-waste in 2011 that, inevitably, will add to the

cost of these much-loved gadgets. Beyond the initial price tag, it's

time to pay for the impact of digital devotion and for designers to

factor in product obsolescence. However, e-waste also presents a new

resource for those with bright ideas – and, ultimately, it will create

new jobs for many.