When they stop being useful, computers, cell phones and other electronic products become E-waste. Each year in the United States, homes, schools, government offices and businesses throw away 9.4 million tons of the stuff, according to Earth911.com.Aside from taking up valuable space in the landfill, E-waste is bad for the environment because it often contains toxic components such as mercury, lead, cadmium, flame retardants, battery acids, barium and lithium. The amount of E-waste is growing, but this type of trash doesn’t have to go into our landfills.