That kind of stuff doesnt surprise me in my neck of the woods. I remeber when there are companies that would throw away their stock of Atari ST's and other equipment (I remember even seeing them chuck a iMac) because their company policies require them to "destroy" decomissioned equipment.
Nowadays there are a lot of companies that use computer equipment reclaming firms to dispose of equipment, because of the whole toxic substances in solder and stuff. Hey, it's America land of want and waste. :pint: