City of Milwaukee collects over 1 million pounds of electronics recycling
Milwaukee’s drop off sites and April one-day collection event tremendously successful

The City of Milwaukee is meeting the E-scrap challenge, recently surpassing 1 million pounds of computers and computer equipment collected and recycled since 2006 through the Department of Public Works’ two Self-Help centers. The fastest growing segment of the solid waste stream and a threat to environmental and human health, unwanted electronics pose a significant management challenge. In addition to an ongoing collection of computer equipment at Self-Help centers, the City of Milwaukee hosted a successful electronic scrap collection day that included televisions on April 26 thanks to a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The collection was a part of the EPA’s 2008 Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge which called for the diversion of electronic scrap from landfills and the proper disposal of unused medicines to help protect the Great Lakes. "The Great Lakes are an irreplaceable national treasure" and "vital to commerce and recreation in the upper Midwest," said Bharat Mathur, EPA Region 5 deputy administrator in Chicago. "They are the largest source of fresh water on Earth and they provide drinking water to over 33 million of us." The US EPA estimates that currently, only about 11% of our unwanted electronics are recycled. The April collection event, held in partnership with Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, resulted in the recovery of over 4.5 tons of lead, over 1,300 grams of cadmium and 454 grams of mercury from collected e-scrap. "Recycling televisions and computers reduces the risk of toxins contained in these products being released into our air and water", says Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. "Too often unwanted household electronics are thrown out and end up in the landfill," Barrett said.

Midwest Computer Recyclers was on hand at the event to collect nearly 32 tons of electronics from Milwaukee residents for responsible recycling or refurbishing. Over 18 tons of computer systems, six tons of TVs, and seven tons of other equipment were collected. “Recycling discarded electronics not only diverts hazardous materials from landfills, but it also allows valuable commodities to be recovered and recycled into new products,” said Rick Meyers, DPW Recycling Manager. Through the City of Milwaukee’s electronics recycling efforts, thousands of pounds of plastic, glass, aluminum, steel, copper and other precious metals are recovered and recycled. Cascade Asset Management, a Madison based electronics recycling company, processes electronics from the City’s Self-Help sites as well as from City departments. Nearly 99% of the collected e-scrap is refurbished, reused, or recycled.

City of Milwaukee residents can bring their unwanted computers and computer equipment to the DPW’s two Self- Help recycling centers. Televisions are not accepted at this time. These centers are located at 6660 N Industrial Rd. and 3879 W Lincoln Ave. For hours and a complete list of accepted materials, visit www.mpw.net/Pages/selfhelp..

For more waste recycling, reusing and reduction news, read our current email bulletin at http://www.wastecapwi.org/bulletin_archive.htm.