Online auction company eBay Inc. has announced the Rethink initiative -- joining personal computer makers and environmental critics in an effort to recycle electronic products that are thrown out every year.

EBay plans to promote the program on its site at http://www.ebay.com/rethink.

At the Rethink site three options are offered - Sell, Donate, and Recycle. Various tools are provided to help you sell your computer, such as a Value Guide, tools to clean your data off of computers, a trade-in program, drop-off locations and shipping kits. In addition eBay provides links for Rethink members who take donations of used equipment, and listings that make it easy to find responsible recyclers near you.

Initial backers of the eBay Rethink program include Intel, computer makers Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Apple Computer and Gateway, distributors Ingram Micro, United Parcel Service and the United States Postal Service.

Environmental critics backing the Rethink include the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Texas Campaign for the Environment and The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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