New York (PTI): Concerned over the harmful "e-waste" caused by the disposed mobile phones and computer equipment, United Nations has convened a meeting to discuss new guidelines to get rid of such e-waste in a way that protects both the environment and human health.

The safe disposal of old mobile phones, computer equipment and ships are among the topics being discussed at the meeting on waste management that kicked off Monday in Indonesia's Bali.

The ninth meeting of parties to the 1989 Basel Convention is considering new guidelines for getting rid of phones and other "e-waste" in a way that protects both the environment and human health.

"The use of mobile phones has grown exponentially from the first few users in the 1970s, to 1.76 billion in 2004, and more than 3 billion in April 2008," the UN Environment Programme and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention stresses. "Sooner or later, these phones will be discarded, whole or in parts."