How many times have you been walking down the street and seen some discarded tech on the sidewalk? If you live in a big enough city, you probably see that every single day -- and it's not often the kind of tech that you want to pick up and take home.

We cover electronic waste quite often on GreenerComputing.com, and while large companies are often quite diligent about dealing with their e-waste -- both as a compliance and liability issue, but also as a way to recapture some of the value in still-useful electronics -- individuals and small companies are where the big impacts in e-waste recycling can be had: Due to lack of resources or lack of time (or both), these groups are most likely to either hoard old electronics or discard them in the easiest, if least environmentally friendly, way possible.

So wouldn't it be nice if there were a handy bin for curbside pickup of unwanted or broken electronics? Not only would it help keep that toxic stuff out of landfills, but companies are increasingly recycling and upcycling that gear into new products, and mining the waste for whatever value is left.

As of July 1, 2010, New York City will have a law in place making it illegal to throw away electronics; as a result, the city and its residents need to get up to speed quickly on handling the more than 250,000 tons of e-waste that the Big Apple generated in 2005: all those televisions, computers, monitors, printers and other gear will soon need safe, proper disposal.

To meet that need, a handful of groups have launched the 4th Bin competition. The idea is to design a logo and collection bin for electronic waste recycling that matches the "Möbius strip" recycling logo that's recognizable in some form or other around the world, and to inspire the city of New York on possible designs for its own recycling program.

The competition has been launched by Valiant Technology and sponsored by a raft of organizations, including Core77, The Architect's Newspaper, Metropolis magazine, and many others.

For a $20 entry free, individual or team designers can submit ideas for the logo, the bin, or both; the deadline for submissions is July 19, and winners will be announced in September. Prizes range from $500 to $3,000, and a People's Choice award, to be announced in November, will also earn a prize.

Full details are online at http://4thbin.org. Now get out there and help people recycle!