Depends on your definition of proper disposal. Putting anything in a landfill other than biodegradable materials just seems far less than ideal. Won’t the metals, precious elements, batteries, etc. eventually need to be dealt with by future generations? Isn't the true cost simply being postponed?
Steel is bought locally for 4.5 cents per pound or more, depending on quality. Batteries at 18 cents, motherboards from your pc or laptop 2 dollars and up. So there is already an incentive for recycling.
