Electronics Recycling

A bill to develop an electronics recycling program in Wisconsin and to ban the landfilling of electronics has passed the Wisconsin State Senate.

Under Senate Bill 107, beginning Sept. 1, 2009, a manufacturer would not be able to sell a covered electronic device at retail or to a retailer for resale unless the manufacturer registers with the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), collects and recycles or arranges for the collection and recycling of certain electronic devices, makes required reports and pays certain fees established under the legislation.

The registration would need to include a list of the manufacturer’s brands that are sold in this state, contact information and a certification that the manufacturer complies with the requirements in the bill. Beginning in 2010, the bill would require a manufacturer to disclose at the time of its registration whether its covered electronic devices comply with European Union limitations on the presence of certain hazardous substances, including lead and mercury, in electronic devices.

The legislation would authorize the DNR to revoke the registration of a manufacturer that violates the requirements under the bill.

According to Amber Meyer Smith, program director at Clean Wisconsin, the current system for properly disposing of electronics in the state proves inefficient, with only 10 percent of electronics generated in the state being properly recycled.

"Making it easier for consumers to properly dispose of electronic waste will have a substantial impact on the health of our environment," Smith says. "Our office alone recycled over 400 pounds of e-waste last year. Imagine the impact if businesses and families across the state had a convenient avenue for properly disposing of such waste."