DNR survey reveals millions of unused electronic devices in Wisconsin

(NBC15)
Published: Apr. 21, 2019 at 8:01 PM CDT
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A 2018 survey of Wisconsinites conducted by the DNR revealed that of the roughly 26.3 million devices throughout the state, 9.3 million of them are going unused.

The survey also indicated that many users are not sure of how and where to get rid of old, unused electronics.

Sarah Murray, the E-Cycle Wisconsin coordinator with the DNR, said recycling electronics can be complicated due to the various parts that make up electronic devices, as opposed to more simple recyclables like metal cans.

Because of the complexities of consumer electronics, 2010 state legislation created certain parameters for what could be recycled, and how to do so.

"It had two basic components - the first was a disposal ban on many types of consumer electronics, so TVs, computers, printers, other accessories for those and printers," Murray said. "Those were banned from landfill and incineration disposal in Wisconsin."

Murray said the ban is due to both the ability for recyclable materials to be taken out of electronics and reused, and also due to some of the dangerous materials such as lead that some electronics contain.

"Both the valuable materials inside that we want to recover, and the harmful materials that we don't want to end up in the environment," she said.

"The other thing that the law did to help consumers find a way to recycle their electronics was created what we call the E-Cycle Wisconsin Program," Murray said. "It's what we refer to as a product stewardship program, it requires manufacturers of computers, TVs, printers, and monitors to register with the state and help fund recycling infrastructure that households and schools can use."

State Senator Mark Miller said he is proud of the recycling efforts that have come out of the 2010 legislation.

"The legislation requires manufacturers to pay for recycling a portion of the products that they sell in the state of Wisconsin, and it's been very very successful," he said.

Murray said that because it has been years since the recycling law was first put into effect, some people are less aware of the bans and E-Cycle program, and are unsure of how to dispose of their electronics.

She said that the survey showed about a third of respondents did not know how or where to recycle electronics, and that 75% of households have at least one unused device.

Those devices should be properly disposed of at a designated drop off site, which are listed at the DNR's website. Bryan Johnson, the Recycling Coordinator for the City of Madison, said people cannot just leave electronics on the curb or in household recycling bins for pick up.

"The material that's recycled from your house, those green recycling carts, that gets processed an entirely different way that's not set up to be able to pull electronic stuff out," said Johnson. "So never put batteries, or cell phones, or any of those kinds of electronic stuff into your recycling cart at your house, bring it to one of the drop off sites, or there's other private electronics recyclers out there too."

Johnson also said that in addition to working with professionals who can best disassemble electronics to recycle the usable material and dispose of harmful material, drop off sites can also ensure that your personal information is protected.