WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau Good News Project is using this Earth Day to raise awareness for its e-CYCLING program, which keeps items like TVs, appliances, and gaming consoles out of landfills.
“It doesn’t even have to have a screen, it can just be a power cord,” said Executive Director Christine Daniels. “It can even have just a place to put batteries. We’ll take that, we just won’t take the batteries.”
Daniels says the program may be best known for TVs and other tech but they’ll also take things like coffee makers and vacuum cleaners. They won’t take things like refrigerators, washers and dryers, or chest freezers.
She says there are two main benefits to taking advantage of the e-CYCLING service. These include saving landfill space and giving the elements that make up the electronics new a second life. “Electronics contain very valuable and reusable materials like copper, gold, silver, and even the glass and the steel,” said Daniels.
Electronics can also leak contaminants such as lead or mercury into the environment if they are not disposed of properly.
The Good News Project has helped divert over 3.2 million pounds of electronics since the inception of the program, including over 215,000 pounds in 2021. Daniels adds that recycling is a state mandate in Wisconsin for all residents and businesses.
Items will be recycled at a cost of $0.45 per pound and can be dropped off on Fridays from 9 AM to 4 PM. Daniels says in honor of Earth Day they are holding a special Saturday collection this week as well.
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