E-cycling a better option for those who received new electronics for the holidays

MILWAUKEE – Now that the gifts are all unwrapped and Wisconsin residents are enjoying new laptops, computers, e-readers and cell phones, the big question is: What do to with those old or unwanted electronics? Thanks to the E-Cycle Wisconsin program, residents can safely dispose of their old electronics and do something good for the environment by taking them to one of the more than 400 collection sites around the state.

“Don’t throw out those old electronics this week,” says Thad Nation, executive director of Wired Wisconsin. “Instead, take them to an e-cycling center, which keeps the materials out of the landfills, reduces waste and supports local jobs.”

In fact, some of Wisconsin’s e-cycling centers take that chain one step further by recycling in support of non-profit organizations. A number of organizations are authorized to take old or unwanted electronics at permanent collection sites, including Goodwill Industries statewide; Wausau-based Good News Project; the Opportunity Development Center’s drop off sites in Stevens Point and Marshfield; St. Vincent De Paul Store of Washington County; and Habitat for Humanity ReStores. Additionally, many local municipalities and for-profit recyclers statewide have permanent e-cycle collection points.

Recycling old electronics after the holidays has become hassle free with Wisconsin’s electronic recycling program, E-Cycle Wisconsin, which established registered collection sites in 2010. Consumers can drop their unwanted electronics at collection sites throughout Wisconsin where recycled goods will be sold to recyclers and broken down for their component recyclable parts.

More information on the benefits of e-cycling and where to find the nearest collection site can be found at -

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/wm/publications/anewpub/wa1559.pdf