Goal is Promoting Responsible E-Waste Recycling and E-Waste Education Statewide

For immediate release
Contact: Thad Nation – 414.412.7814
September 30, 2009

WISCONSIN—Wired Wisconsin, a non-profit technology advocacy group, has partnered with three Wisconsin Goodwill agencies—Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, South Central Wisconsin and Northern Wisconsin—to promote education and the responsible recycling of e-waste.

Goodwill Industries International—along with Dell Inc.—founded the Reconnect program in 2004 to provide consumers with a convenient, free and responsible drop-off and recycling service for old and broken computers and electronics. E-waste, or electronic waste, can contain environmentally sensitive material, making normal disposal unsafe.

Wired Wisconsin is partnering with the Goodwill Agencies to increase awareness of the Reconnect program and the importance of safe e-waste disposal through special educational and collection events throughout Wisconsin.

“Wired Wisconsin is proud to partner with these Goodwill agencies to help promote the safe disposal of electronic equipment,” said Wired Wisconsin Executive Director of Thad Nation. “Our organization is committed to setting an environmentally conscious example for our state, and promoting responsible e-waste recycling practices is a great way to do that.”

“The Reconnect program has diverted over 79 million pounds of electronic equipment from landfills nation-wide,” said Barbara Leslie, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin. “Through our partnership with Wired Wisconsin, we believe the residents of South Central Wisconsin will be better informed on the issue of e-waste.”

“In its advocacy for rural broadband deployment, Wired Wisconsin has already displayed a substantial commitment to Northern Wisconsin,” said Jim Borowski, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. “It is our hope that this partnership will increase the responsible recycling of electronic equipment in our region.”

“Wired Wisconsin has been an enthusiastic supporter of technology advancement throughout the state.  We are excited to be partnering with this organization to improve recycling practices in Southeast Wisconsin,” said John Miller, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin.

Forty-Seven Wisconsin Goodwill locations are currently accepting computer and electronics equipment for recycling. Consumers dropping off equipment can request a donation receipt for tax purposes. To find a location near you, visit www.reconnectpartnership.com.

Learn about more options for recycling computers and electronics at www.dell.com/recycling.

Wired Wisconsin is a non-profit coalition of concerned individuals, businesses and organizations who are working to put our state on the cutting edge of technology. The coalition will work to support an environment for innovative technology, high-tech job creation, and economic growth. Wired Wisconsin will seek to educate consumers, policy makers, and businesses about technology- related legislative and regulatory issues that impact our lives and advocate for common-sense approaches to spur innovation and grow the economy. For more information, visit www.wiredwisconsin.org.

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 183 community-based, independent member agencies in the United States, Canada, and 16 other countries. Goodwill Industries trains people for careers in fields such as financial services, computer programming, banking, and health care. For more information on each of the participating Goodwill agencies, please visit www.goodwillscwi.org www.goodwillsew.com, and www.goodwillnow.org.

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