DNR Awards More Than $250,000 For Recycling Electronics In Underserved Areas

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has awarded just over $250,000 in E-Cycle Wisconsin Electronics Collection Grants for 39 projects in 35 counties that will host an electronics collection site or event between October 2026 and December 2027. The grants will help fund two permanent electronics collection sites and up to 55 one-day collection events.

Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law, which took effect in 2010, banned many electronics from the trash. It also created E-Cycle Wisconsin, a manufacturer-funded program managed by the DNR that supports a statewide network of electronics collectors and recyclers. As of 2025, households and schools had already recycled 440 million pounds of electronics through E-Cycle Wisconsin.

Since 2022, the DNR has awarded more than $830,000 to projects in 59 counties located mostly in rural areas. These projects have supported development of nine permanent collection sites and 136 one-day collection events.

“Our goal is to expand convenient, affordable electronics recycling opportunities available statewide,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “The grant program continues to help rural and underserved communities that haven’t had the same access to electronics recycling as those in other parts of the state. Responsible electronics recycling prevents pollution, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and creates jobs right here in Wisconsin.”

Financial support for additional collection sites and events will make it easier for residents in those areas to recycle unwanted electronics. The DNR gave priority to projects in counties that do not have a permanent collection site registered under E-Cycle Wisconsin that is open to all residents. More information about the grant program is available on the DNR's E-Cycle Wisconsin Information for Collectors webpage.

The 2026-2027 grant recipients are:

• B3 Recycling, for collection events in Calumet, Door, Kewaunee and Manitowoc counties
• Cardinal Insulated Glass, for a Sauk County collection event
• Clark County, for a collection event
• Crawford County Land Conservation, for two collection events
• DANEnet, for three Dane County collection events
• Dodge County, for a collection event
• Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, for collection events in Ashland, Bayfield, Forest, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Langlade, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Polk, Richland, Rusk, Sawyer, Vilas, Waupaca and Wood counties
• First Choice Recycling, for collection events in Florence and Iron counties
• Goodwill of North Central Wisconsin, for events in Jackson, Price and Taylor counties
• Green County Landfill, for three collection events
• Green Lake County, to establish a permanent collection site
• Jackson County Zoning/Recycling, for a collection event
• Price Electric Cooperative, for two Price County collection events
• Sturgeon Bay Utilities, for a Door County collection event
• Taylor County Solid Waste Department, for two collection events
• Town of Round Lake, to expand services at a Sawyer County permanent collection site
• Walworth County Public Works, for two collection events

Funds for the grants come from fees electronics manufacturers pay under E-Cycle Wisconsin to ensure the proper collection and recycling of used electronics. Devices accepted for recycling include computers, monitors, TVs, printers, cellphones and many accessories.

The DNR offers an up-to-date, interactive list of E-Cycle Wisconsin collection sites and mail-back programs. The list allows residents to map nearby collection sites, look up locations by county and find free trade-in and mail-back programs.