E-Recycling Laws in Wisconsin

Do you have a lot of electronics that you need to get rid of? Then you may be curious about the e-recycling laws in Wisconsin, and that’s where Sadoff is here to help. We can run you through what is banned from Wisconsin landfills and tell you what you can do with your e-waste.

Is it the Law to Recycle in Wisconsin?

Believe it or not, recycling is not the law in many states, but it is in Wisconsin and has been since 1990. How every county or municipality handles its recycling is up to them, as long as certain items—which we have outlined below—do not enter the landfill.

Most areas provide waste pick up and trust in residents and businesses to separate these items out of their garbage cans. Often these areas do provide bins for specified recyclable materials as well as additional pick-up options for other materials.

To find out how to get rid of any of these banned items, please refer to your local municipality. Most do not provide an option for electronics though they are banned. We will dive into exactly what electronics are banned in landfills below.

What Electronics are Banned From Landfills in Wisconsin?

Electronics are among the items banned from Wisconsin’s landfills. Below we have a list of the items specifically mentioned in Wisconsin law as banned. However, you’ll find that it pretty much includes all electronics.

Electronics

• Cell Phones
• Computers
• Fax Machines
• Flash Drives
• Hard Drives
• Monitors
• Printers
• Scanners
• Speakers
• Televisions
• Video Players (DVD, VCR, etc.)
• Other Items That Plug Into a Computer

You’ll notice the last item is a blanket inclusion for other items. Most electronics can plug into a computer, so even if you think you have an item that has slipped through the cracks, that may not be the case. There are many additional items that don’t fit neatly into this electronics category that are also banned which we will dig into below.

Read More: Where to E-Recycle Bulk IT Equipment

Can You Put Electronics in Your Recycling Bin In Wisconsin?

This is where some people will often get confused. They know that e-recycling is a good thing. They may even know that electronics can’t go to a Wisconsin landfill, but they are not sure if you can just throw electronics in your blue recycling bin.

The quick answer is no. Most recycling bins will carefully list the items that are acceptable and they generally boil down to paper products, glass, plastic, and metals. Though electronics contain metals, they also contain a lot of other materials including hazardous materials and metals. Traditional recycling facilities are only set up to handle these types of materials and adding electronics into the mix will further complicate the process.

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Other Items Banned From Landfills in Wisconsin

Electronics aren’t the only things that are banned from going into Wisconsin landfills. Below we have a comprehensive list of items that are banned from Wisconsin landfills. Among them, you will find several things that are similar to electronics, or are recyclable in the blue bins.

How to Recycle Your Electronics in Wisconsin

If you want to recycle your electronics in Wisconsin, you are probably looking for an option and most municipalities and counties do not provide their own solution for you. This is where Sadoff comes in. Especially if you have a lot of electronics that need to be dealt with, you can turn to Sadoff. We have several locations in Wisconsin, including Green Bay, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan. We can also handle freight for larger jobs. In addition to e-recycling, we also handle data destruction and more. Reach out to us today for a quote.

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Categorized in: Electronics Recycling