Recently, the e-waste bill was signed into law, and the way we dispose of and recycle electronics in Wisconsin is about to change.
Our lives now are full of computers, cell phones, printers, televisions and other electronics. Electronic waste is the fastest growing component of waste in the United States. We need to make sure harmful waste from disposed electronic devices is properly taken care of, and we should take advantage of the recyclable materials also a part of unwanted electronic devices; therefore, the e-waste bill.
Until now, recycling electronics within Wisconsin has not been mandatory for private citizens. As a result, many electronics have been sent to the landfill or incinerated. But trashing electronics is not without consequences. Many electronic devices contain harmful chemicals, including mercury, lead, cadmium and other heavy metals, as well as chemical flame retardants. When landfilled or incinerated, these chemicals can pose a risk to human and environmental health.
Electronics also contain valuable reusable materials, including steel, gold, silver, copper and glass. It also is important to recycle electronics because of the valuable reusable materials they contain, including plastics, metals, circuit boards and others. Recycling or reusing these materials reduces environmental impacts and economic costs by reducing the need for new materials in new electronics.
Wisconsin's electronics recycling law establishes a collection and recycling system in Wisconsin for certain consumer electronic devices discarded by households and K-12 public schools, and bans landfilling or incineration of these devices in Wisconsin.
In the new law, manufacturers may not sell covered electronic devices in Wisconsin to households or K-12 schools unless they register with the DNR and report their recycling rates, arrange for collection and recycling of their products, and pay program fees. A retailer may only sell an electronic product from a registered manufacturer, no fees are required. Recyclers and collectors must register with the DNR, but they are not required to pay a fee. Consumers are able to recycle their electronics more easily and conveniently at retailers and recycling locations all over the state. The law provides incentives for rural recycling, so areas where it often is hard to find a recycling outlet should be better served. Local governments must provide citizens information on recycling availability in their area. The e-waste program is administered by the DNR.
For more information on the e-waste bill contact my office at (888) 549-0027 or e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District, which includes Green County.
Our lives now are full of computers, cell phones, printers, televisions and other electronics. Electronic waste is the fastest growing component of waste in the United States. We need to make sure harmful waste from disposed electronic devices is properly taken care of, and we should take advantage of the recyclable materials also a part of unwanted electronic devices; therefore, the e-waste bill.
Until now, recycling electronics within Wisconsin has not been mandatory for private citizens. As a result, many electronics have been sent to the landfill or incinerated. But trashing electronics is not without consequences. Many electronic devices contain harmful chemicals, including mercury, lead, cadmium and other heavy metals, as well as chemical flame retardants. When landfilled or incinerated, these chemicals can pose a risk to human and environmental health.
Electronics also contain valuable reusable materials, including steel, gold, silver, copper and glass. It also is important to recycle electronics because of the valuable reusable materials they contain, including plastics, metals, circuit boards and others. Recycling or reusing these materials reduces environmental impacts and economic costs by reducing the need for new materials in new electronics.
Wisconsin's electronics recycling law establishes a collection and recycling system in Wisconsin for certain consumer electronic devices discarded by households and K-12 public schools, and bans landfilling or incineration of these devices in Wisconsin.
In the new law, manufacturers may not sell covered electronic devices in Wisconsin to households or K-12 schools unless they register with the DNR and report their recycling rates, arrange for collection and recycling of their products, and pay program fees. A retailer may only sell an electronic product from a registered manufacturer, no fees are required. Recyclers and collectors must register with the DNR, but they are not required to pay a fee. Consumers are able to recycle their electronics more easily and conveniently at retailers and recycling locations all over the state. The law provides incentives for rural recycling, so areas where it often is hard to find a recycling outlet should be better served. Local governments must provide citizens information on recycling availability in their area. The e-waste program is administered by the DNR.
For more information on the e-waste bill contact my office at (888) 549-0027 or e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District, which includes Green County.
