Consumer-electronics devices can waste as much as 25% of their normal power when ostensibly off.

ECONOMIST: The much-talked-of smart grid prepares to enter the home

Participants in that treaty tried to finalize e-waste guidelines, but they were not adopted because some developed countries and the electronics industry would not agree without adding loopholes to allow repairable electronic waste to be exempted, said advocacy group IPEN, a global network of more than 700 public interest non-governmental organizations.

NPR: Nations Agree To New Chemical Ban, Export Controls

While it's true that we waste plenty of electricity each year just so our electronics are ready to go when we are, we think it's worth it.

ENGADGET: How much does it cost to just leave your HDTV plugged in? HD

Currently there is a groundswell of real US electronics recyclers (not exporters that call themselves recyclers) that are demanding a US law (the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act) for toxic electronic waste comparable to what the rest of the world is already doing under the Basel Convention rules.

FORBES: It's Easy Enough To Solve The Problem Of E-Waste

Get ready for hordes of shoppers to hit Best Buy and other discount electronics retailers, creating new mountains of e-waste as they upgrade to an HD format.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Get ready for hordes of shoppers to hit Best Buy (nyse: BBY - news - people ) and other discount electronics retailers, creating new mountains of e-waste as they upgrade to an HD format.

FORBES: Emily Lambert On Retailing