New electronics recycling guidelines take effect
Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law was signed by Gov. Doyle last October as Act 50.
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Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law was signed by Gov. Doyle last October as Act 50.
The law establishes a statewide program, now called the E-Cycle Wisconsin program, to collect and recycle certain electronic devices. It is based on a product stewardship approach, which assigns primary responsibility for collection and recycling to the manufacturer. The law also bans certain electronics from Wisconsin landfills and incinerators as of Sept. 1.
Once fully implemented, the law is expected to provide Wisconsin households and K-12 public schools with more convenient recycling locations across the state, conserve valuable resources, prevent pollution—and its associated impacts on human health and the environment—from improper disposal of electronics, and encourage an expansion of the state’s recycling industry.
Pierce County has always maintained contracts with electronics recycling companies processing their material in an environmentally responsible manner. By doing so, this new legislation will make more electronic recycling companies accountable for their practices and methods in which they process electronic equipment.
Similar legislation has already been passed in Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana. With Wisconsin now on board, electronics manufacturers, collectors (such as Pierce County’s recycling center) and recyclers in these states will be able to follow similar procedures to create a more uniform program. To learn more about E-Cycle Wisconsin, visit:
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/wm/ecycle/index.htm
Materials banned from landfill and accepted year-round at Pierce County’s recycling center are:
—Computers-desktop, laptop;
—Desktop printer/fax/copier/scanner;
—Televisions;
—Monitors;
—Keyboards/mice;
—Hard drives;
—DVD/VCR players ;
—Video display screens (cell phones);
—DVRs.
Tags: home and garden, news, wisconsin
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