Shift to Digital Sends More CDs to the Trash

Americans throw away millions of CDs every year, the Environmental Protection Agency says. Who needs the clutter when you can organize your music files in a neat database on your computer?

Even though consumers made the shift long ago to downloadable music files, recording powerhouses like Sony (SNE Quote), Warner Music Group (WMG Quote) and EMI still rely heavily on CD sales. They're incented to keep pumping out plastic instead of embracing the green technology their customers prefer.

There isn't a lot of data about the music industry's carbon footprint. What's available is incomplete and fairly self-serving. ...