Technological innovations in the field of computers continue to advance exponentially. Personal computers now available to citizens of OECD member countries at modest prices have more computing power than was available to their governments not very long ago. Connected to the internet, these computers provide access to sources of information and means of communication almost beyond imagination. This power and usefulness has resulted in an equally exponential increase in the demand for and proliferation of personal computers, in households as well as offices. They are now ubiquitous in developed societies. 2. This proliferation of personal computers has raised environmental concerns with their ultimate fate in the environment. Hundreds of millions of computers are now in the hands of citizens. And, with the astronomical pace of technological development, all of these personal computers are rapidly approaching obsolescence. Their owners need to dispose of them, to make room for the next model ... and the next ... and the next. 3. Within the context of the overall OECD programme on environmentally sound management of wastes and used and scrap materials, this paper provides a pilot set of waste stream specific ESM technical guidance that can be used to ensure environmentally sound reuse and recovery of used and scrap1 personal computers (PCs), as well as components and materials thereof. This technical guidance is also applicable to transboundary movements of these appliances, components and materials for reuse and recovery purposes. This guidance does not address other environmental issues, such as product design, choice of materials and energy efficiency while in use, which may arise in the life cycle of a personal computer, at any time from design and manufacture through to the end of its life as an operating electronic device. However a closer co-operation between PC-manufacturers and recyclers (in areas such as identifying substances of concern in various models of PCs, as well as efforts toward design for recyclability) will be necessary in order to maximise the quantity of suitable material for recovery, and thus enhance contribution to waste prevention and minimisation. This guidance also does not address aspects pertaining to the collection of used PCs; rather this guidance focuses on the environmentally sound management of used PCs, once they have been collected for reuse or recycling. Much useful information on collection programs pertaining to many types of wastes can be found in the OECD publication of 2001: " Extended Producer Responsibility: A Guidance Manual for Governments".