Environmental experts in the US say that the country will produce more than 3 billion units of electronic waste by 2010.

A new report by the International Association of Electronics Recyclers (IAER) predicts that the level of mobile phone and computer waste will soar over the coming years, yielding a potential treasure trove of precious metals.

Experts such as John Powers, a consultant to the electronics recycling industry, say that this e-waste is a big industry.

“Americans already have a large inventory of obsolete consumer electronics sitting in their homes,” Mr Powers told the Washington Times.

“The pace of technological change in consumer electronics seems to be growing. So in five years, that buildup is going to be significant.”

The precious metal content has prompted a number of start up firms in the US seeking to exploit the commercial opportunities, as Sarah Manning, of Subtraction LLC explained.

“We take equipment from people and only charge for certain items,” she said.

“The items that contain hazardous materials, such as monitors and TVs, we have to send to an outfit in New Jersey that is suited to take the lead content to a smelter, where it then is recycled.”

“[The Greater Washington area] probably is one of the front-runners in doing something about the problem,” she added.

The trend for recycling is likely to be accentuated by a recent ruling by the Federal Communications Commission, which allows cellular phone subscribers to switch carriers and take their phone numbers with them.

The result is that it's easier and often cheaper to switch phones, resulting in a greater number of units being produced and, ultimately, recycled.