How Do I Dispose of Electronics in Wisconsin?

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 17

Many City of Madison residents may have been disposing of their TVs, computers, and electronics in the recycling bin, assuming it’s the proper method. However, they may not realize that there are designated drop-off sites or private electronics recyclers in the Madison area.

Items that must be recycled by state law are printers, phones, TVs, video players, computers, and accessories. Other recyclable items include cords, stereos, gaming systems, cameras, and MP3 players. Once these items are thrown out, they are recycled by Universal Recycling Technologies at their facility in Janesville, WI. This facility holds numerous certifications for protective, secure data destruction when recycling old electronics.

Many people wonder, “Do you have to pay to recycle your electronics?” The answer is no – electronic recycling is completely free. Although recycling electronics is free, there are fees for recycling large electronics or if electronics are simply left on the curbsides of driveways. Residents are charged a $30 fee and city of Madison staff have the right to remove the items if they are improperly disposed.

Expanded drop-off hours mainly occur during winter hours and spring hours for the facility. Drop sites in the winter are closed on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. In the spring, they are closed only Wednesday and Sunday. Drop-off sites are located on the East side of Madison at 4602 Sycamore Ave., the West side of Madison at 402 South Point Rd., and Central Madison at 121 E. Olin Ave.

Recycling electronics and large items conserves resources, reduces environmental pollution, and minimizes energy use, enabling us to thrive and achieve a more sustainable future.

[Source: City of Madison]