People still illegally dump old consumer electronics, says DNR

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says that while a program to keep consumer electronics out of landfills fares well, concerns remain that people are still illegally dumping old televisions and other gadgets.

Governor Jim Doyle signed a law that banned most consumer electronics from Wisconsin landfills and incinerators. DNR staff told their board this week that almost 100 million pounds of electronics have been recycled through a state program for recyclers and waste collectors, called E-Cycle Wisconsin.

But E-cycle coordinator Sarah Murray says there are still some consumers unfamiliar with the law, or who illegally dump on purpose.

“We do get complaints about dumping in rural areas. Sometimes it’s on public land, sometimes it’s in ditches, sometimes it’s on private property,” she said. “We also see issues in urban areas: Maybe somebody puts a TV out at the curb and it gets smashed and creates a hazard, or they might end up in vacant lots.”

In addition, Murray says three mainly rural counties — Marquette, Iron and Florence — don't have any e-waste collection sites. The DNR also says that some small-scale recyclers who are not part of E-cycle Wisconsin may be mismanaging the potentially harmful materials found in electronic junk.

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