Statewide Electronics Recycling Mandate Begins Today

Beginning September 1, 2010 electronics can no longer be thrown away or incinerated in the state of Wisconsin. 2009 Wisconsin Act 50 applies to all Wisconsin residents, schools, and businesses. The ban includes all televisions, computers, cell phones and peripheral devices.  The Department of Natural Resources has a complete list of banned items on its website.

The law establishing the ban also created a statewide electronics recycling program, under which electronics manufacturers pay to recycle a certain amount of electronics from households and schools each year. However, households and schools may still pay a recycling fee or be limited in the number of devices they can recycle at one time. There are also collection sites across the state where consumers can properly dispose of their used electronics.