Wisconsin E-Waste Recycling Law (2026): What Residents Need to Know

Quick Answer

Yes - Wisconsin has a mandatory electronics recycling law. Under the E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17) (enacted 2009), residents and businesses can recycle covered electronic devices for free at designated collection sites. The law uses a manufacturer-funded recycling model, meaning the cost of recycling is borne by manufacturers, not households.

What devices the law covers in Wisconsin

The E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17) applies to: computers, monitors, laptops, TVs, printers, fax machines, e-readers, DVD players.

If your device falls outside this list (for example, kitchen appliances, power tools, or batteries), it may still be subject to other state hazardous waste rules but is not covered by this specific e-waste law. Check with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for guidance on non-covered items.

How much does it cost Wisconsin residents?

Free to households, K-12 schools

Most Wisconsin households can drop off covered electronics at retailer locations (Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot), municipal collection events, and certified recycler facilities at no charge. The manufacturer-funded recycling model means manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Dell, and HP fund the collection program based on the volume of equipment they sell into Wisconsin.

Who enforces the law

Wisconsin electronic waste recycling enforcement is handled by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

For consumer guidance, recycler verification, and to report illegal dumping, contact the agency directly via their official portal: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Ecycle

Penalties for non-compliance

Violations of the E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17) carry significant penalties: Up to $25,000 per day per violation.

Penalties typically apply to: - Manufacturers who fail to register or meet collection targets - Businesses that knowingly dispose of covered electronics in landfills - Unlicensed waste haulers transporting electronic waste - Improper export of e-waste to non-OECD countries (federal Basel Convention enforcement also applies)

Key requirements summary

Landfill ban since 2010 for covered devices. Manufacturers must register and report annually.

How to recycle electronics in Wisconsin - step by step

1. Identify whether your device is covered. Cross-check against the covered devices list above. If yes, the law guarantees free recycling.
2. Find a certified collection site. Use the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources site locator (link above), the Wisconsin recycling locator on eCycling Central, or check at major retailers (Best Buy stores accept many electronics for free regardless of state).
3. Prepare the device. Remove batteries if accessible (lithium batteries should be taped at the terminals to prevent fire). Wipe personal data using factory reset and ideally a full disk wipe utility. Remove SIM cards from phones. Detach removable storage from cameras.
4. Drop off or schedule pickup. Most retailers accept walk-in drop-off during normal hours. Some manufacturer programs (Apple Trade In, Dell Reconnect, HP Planet Partners) offer free postage labels for mail-in.
5. Get a receipt. Even though there's no fee, a drop-off receipt protects you if questions later arise about chain of custody (especially relevant for businesses subject to data protection requirements like HIPAA or GLBA).

Manufacturer take-back programs available in Wisconsin

Major manufacturers operate national take-back programs that fulfil their obligations under the E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17) and similar state laws: - Apple - free recycling and trade-in via apple.com/recycling and at every Apple Store - Best Buy - free in-store drop-off for most small electronics, fee-based haul-away for large appliances - Dell Reconnect - partners with Goodwill for drop-off; mail-back labels for some products - HP Planet Partners - free mail-back for HP equipment - Samsung Recycling Direct - free postage labels for Samsung electronics - Staples - accepts up to 7 items per day per customer for free recycling - Lenovo Asset Recovery Services - for businesses; free takeback for Lenovo equipment

Each program also accepts other manufacturers' devices in many cases - call ahead to confirm what they will take.

Business and institutional recycling

Businesses generating more than the household quantity threshold (typically 7-10 items per visit) may need to use a certified Information Technology Asset Disposition (ITAD) provider. ITAD services include: - Certified data destruction (NIST 800-88 sanitization or physical destruction) - Chain-of-custody documentation - Resale or refurbishment of working equipment - Compliant disposal of unrecoverable units - Carbon footprint and recovery reporting

For HIPAA/GLBA/SOX-regulated entities, ITAD is mandatory rather than optional.

What happens to your recycled electronics in Wisconsin

Collected electronics typically follow this pathway:

1. Aggregation at the collection site (retailer or municipal facility)
2. Transport to a certified processor (R2 or e-Stewards certified facilities preferred)
3. Manual disassembly to separate plastics, metals, glass, and circuit boards
4. Mechanical processing - shredding and material separation by density and magnetic properties
5. Refining - plastics to pellets, metals to smelters, circuit boards to specialist refiners for precious metal recovery
6. Hazardous component handling - CRT glass, mercury switches, lithium batteries handled separately under hazardous waste rules
7. Documentation and reporting back to the manufacturer for compliance

Approximately 85-95% of a typical electronic device by weight is recoverable into the materials economy.

Comparison: Wisconsin vs neighboring states

The E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17) is one of 25 state-level mandatory e-waste recycling laws in the United States. The remaining 25 states have either voluntary programs, manufacturer-led initiatives without statutory requirements, or no specific framework beyond general waste rules.

For a complete comparison see our Top 50 US Electronics Recyclers directory and state-by-state recycling guides.

Sources and further reading - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Ecycle - National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), State Electronic Waste Recycling Laws database - Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC), State Electronics Recycling Laws summary - E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17) (full statute text via Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources portal)

Frequently asked questions

Is the Wisconsin e-waste law applicable to businesses? Wisconsin's law primarily protects household consumers and small businesses, but the specific business size thresholds vary. Businesses generating more than the household quantity should use an ITAD provider rather than relying on residential collection programs.

Can I be fined for putting an old computer in the household trash in Wisconsin? Yes - Wisconsin has a landfill ban for covered electronics.

Does the Wisconsin law cover televisions? Yes - TVs are explicitly covered under the E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17).

Can manufacturers refuse to take back my old device? Under the E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17), manufacturers selling covered devices into Wisconsin must accept reasonable quantities of their own brand from individual consumers free of charge. Refusal is enforceable through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

How does the Wisconsin law compare to California's SB 20? California's similar law uses an Advance Recycling Fee (ARF) collected at the point of sale, while Wisconsin's E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17) uses a manufacturer-funded recycling model. The practical effect for consumers is broadly similar - free drop-off recycling - but the funding mechanism differs.

Disclaimer

This summary reflects the E-Cycle Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 287.17) as of 2026. Statutory amendments, regulatory updates, and enforcement priorities change. For binding legal advice or current compliance status, consult a qualified environmental attorney or contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources directly. eCycling Central is an independent information directory, not a law firm.