E-Cycle Wisconsin Celebrates a Decade of E-Waste Recycling Success

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Wisconsin’s electronics recycling program reached a new milestone by completing a decade of successful operations.

The manufacturer-funded program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was established in the month of January 2010. The state of Wisconsin had established a disposal ban on consumer electronics with effect from September, 2010.

During this period, a total of 325 million pounds of electronic devices were collected for recycling, said the latest data published by the DNR.

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The processing of the above by certified recyclers in Wisconsin and nearby states has led to recycling of approximately 47 million pounds of steel, 8 million pounds of aluminum and 16 million pounds of copper. This is in addition to substantial volumes of glass, plastic and other metals.

Sarah Murray, E-Cycle Wisconsin coordinator for the DNR noted that the state’s electronics collection and recycling infrastructure has witnessed tremendous growth over the past ten years. There has been a marked improvement in access to electronics recycling by households. Murray urged all residents to make sure that the old electronics at homes are handled safely and put back to productive use.

The challenge before the program is the finding of a survey conducted in 2018, which said that many Wisconsinites continue to store end-of-life electronics.