China will phase out the use of toxic materials in electronic products, and increase recycling of dumped household appliances, according to a new policy released Wednesday.

Before toxic materials are totally banned, customers will be informed by producers about the amount of hazardous materials in electronic products and given guides on how to dispose of them safely.

The new requirement is part of the new pollution prevention and control policy on electronic waste, known as e-waste, drawn up by environmental, technology, commercial and information industry authorities.

To minimize e-waste pollution, the policy makes it clear that customers, retailers and producers must share the cost of handling the waste.

Specific measures have been mapped out to deal with the hazardous materials found in certain electronic appliances, such as in liquid crystal displays or circuitry.

"As a guideline document, the new policy covers all electronic waste, not just abandoned TVs, fridges, washing machines, air conditioners or computers," said Li Jinhui, administrative director of the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre for Hazardous Waste Management.

"It is designed to deal with the rising levels of e-waste in China," said Li.

"Currently, due to the demand from low-income people, old electronic products are flooding the second-hand market. But in a few years, they will be dumped."

In recent years China has witnessed a rapid growth in the dumping of electronic products and e-waste being smuggled to coastal areas.

Experts predict Beijing will produce 115,200 tons of e-waste in 2006 alone, including 3.6 million old TVs, fridges, washing machines, air-conditioners and personal computers and 2.3 million mobile phones.

In 2010, experts say Beijingers will throw away 158,300 tons of e-waste.

The National Development and Reform Commission forecasts that about 4 million fridges, 5 million washing machines and as many TVs will be discarded nationwide in the next few years.

Worldwide, as much as 4,000 tons of toxic e-waste is discarded every hour, equivalent to the weight of 1,000 elephants, according to figures from global environmental group Green Peace.