Wisconsin governor approves updates to state’s electronics recycling program

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 108 into law March 14, which makes a series of changes to the state’s electronics recycling program, E-Cycle Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin’s E-Cycle program has been massively successful in keeping millions of tons of obsolete electronic waste out of our local landfills and putting these valuable materials into newer devices,” Wisconsin Sen. Robert Cowles says. “But as targets for recycling shift, the state should be able to adapt and keep the program operating efficiently without unnecessarily punishing program participants. Updating our guidelines under Act 108 will keep E-Cycle Wisconsin a modern, practical tool that benefits manufacturers, collectors, recyclers and consumers across Wisconsin.”

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Act 108 changes the formula used to set electronics manufacturers’ annual recycling targets. The recycling targets previously were 80 percent of the weight of covered electronics sold in Wisconsin during the previous year. The targets now are based on a manufacturer’s market share percentage of all the weight of electronics received for recycling under E-Cycle Wisconsin during a previous program year.

The new law expands the list of devices eligible for recycling to include those used for input to/output from video display devices and increases manufacturer registration fees from $5,000 to $5,500 beginning March 1, 2025. It also directs the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to create rules for “good faith progress” toward meeting a manufacturer’s recycling target.

Wisconsin Rep. Jeff Mursau says the E-Cycle Wisconsin program has recycled more than 370 million pounds of electronics since the program took effect in 2010.

DNR will hold a webinar April 4 from noon to 1 p.m. Central Daylight Time to provide more details and answer questions about the changes.