Free E-Waste Recycling Event Returns to Dane County

May 21, 2010
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606 Jan Neitzel-Knox, Dane County Public Works (608) 266-4029
County Executive

Event Offers Opportunity to Safely Dispose of Old TVs, Computers, & Other Electronics; Volunteers Needed!

Dane County is once again partnering with a national electronics recycling company headquartered in Janesville to offer a free electronic waste collection on Saturday, June 19th at the Alliant Energy Center.  A similar event last May collected 800,000 pounds of old electronics.  At the time it was believed to be the largest e-waste round-up of its kind in North America.

“It’ll be tough to top last year’s record performance but thanks to the generosity of our great partners, we’re once again offering this free service hoping to collect many tons of old TVs and computers and keep them out of our landfill,” County Executive Kathleen Falk said.

Falk noted more than 10,000 cars went through the lines at last year’s free e-waste collection.  To help move people through quicker this year, the number of drop-off lanes has been doubled and more crates and trucks will be on site and ready for the June 19th free event.  Normally private contractors charge fees to take old TVs and computers.

Janesville based Universal Recycling Technology (URT) is once again partnering with electronics manufacturers including the MRM Group which represents Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba and 20 other manufacturers to cover all the costs of this collection.

“We are very excited to be working with Dane County again this year to collect and properly recycle used electronics from area residents” said Jim Cornwell, President of Universal Recycling Technologies.

The Dane County e-waste recycling event will be Saturday, June 19, 2010 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.  The drop-area will be set up in the back parking lot of the Alliant Energy Center.  All vehicles must enter either the main entrance off Rimrock Road or the entrance off Olin Avenue.  Electronics that will be collected during the event are: television sets of all sizes, personal computers (including keyboards and mice) and computer monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, calculators, cell phones, radios, stereos, telephones, DVD and CD players, and VCRs.

Because a large number of people are expected to take part, Dane County and its partner agencies need volunteers to help make June 19th a success.  Volunteers are needed from 7a m to 3:30pm, in half day or full day shifts.  Those interested in helping unload cars and/or direct traffic at the drop-off site are encouraged to contact Jan Neitzel-Knox at Dane County Public Works at 266-4029 or by e-mail at:  neitzel-knox@co.dane.wi.us