Technology created the problem of e-waste, and technology provides the solution. Online sites like eBay, Craigslist and others are ideal for buying and selling used electronics. I'm talking about treating mobile phones and PCs like we do high-value products such as cars, not like low-value products such as newspapers. With cars, we repair them when they're broken, sell them when we buy a new one and squeeze decades of use out of them.

Here are six reasons why re-upgrading is better than recycling:

• Re-upgrading "recycles" gadgets efficiently. Re-upgrading is energy-and labour-efficient. Nothing has to be processed, and no testing, refurbishing or disassembly is required. And re-upgrading takes advantage of miniaturization. Mobile phones, digital camera and media players are light and cheap to ship.

• Re-upgrading forces manufacturers to make fewer devices. By buying used electronics en masse, consumers can force much lower unit sales by gadget makers. That's the best thing we can do for the environment.

• Re-upgrading takes advantage of self-interest. Early adopters and serious users sell gadgets to fund their next purchase. They get to upgrade more frequently and always stay on the bleeding edge without a huge financial penalty. Bargain hunters get more for their money. If your budget for a new laptop is $US800, would you rather have a powerful system that's cheap because it's used or a brand-new clunker that's cheap because it's too weak to run Windows Vista?

• Re-upgrading punishes junk manufacturers. If more purchases are made initially by knowledgeable power users, and if the bargain hunters buy better products used rather than seeking out the cheapest new junk, companies will work harder to serve the high end of the market. As a result, the average device in every category will be better and easier to sell, and enjoy a longer life.

• Re-upgrading addresses the biggest problem: lazy storage. By selling a gadget as soon as you buy a new one, you're motivated by self-interest to move the device out of your house and into full, productive use while it is still valuable.

• Re-upgrading takes pressure off recycling centres. Many of the devices taken to recycling centres are going to be used by someone anyway, but only after a costly and environmentally unfriendly process.

The biggest hurdle for the re-upgrading movement is psychological. People have been conditioned by marketing to want brand-new electronics. But part of this is a delusion - we're already getting used products. Carriers already sell "refurbished" phones. Often, when a manufacturer replaces a damaged unit, it sends you a "used" phone. These devices tend to work exactly like new ones. It's just an idea we need to get used to. It would help if the environmental groups pushed this notion.

Meanwhile, if you want to embrace the re-upgrading movement, here are my best re-upgrading tips:

• Always look for maximum resale value when you buy (and force manufacturers to make longer-lasting products). Upgrade frequently.

• Always consider buying used instead of new. Become skilled at monitoring the auction and classified ad sites for deals.

• Sell your previous model on eBay, Craigslist or similar site as soon as possible, while it still has maximum value.

• Always keep packaging to facilitate shipping and enhance value.

• Always keep items such as cables and accessories. To enhance value, bundle them free when you sell the old model if they don't work with the new.

• If something breaks, fix it before selling or donating. You'll get a better price or make a better contribution, and you might be able to do it with your existing warranty or insurance that the buyer may not have.

Recycling e-waste is good, but only as the last resort. It's time the environmental groups start pushing for re-upgrading and stop pushing recycling. It's better for the environment, and it's better for you and me.

Mike Elgan is a technology writer and former editor of Windows Magazine. He can be reached at mike.elgan@elgan.com or his blog: http://therawfeed.com.

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