New electronic gadget and toys were under many Christmas trees this year, and if that new smart phone, mp3 player, or big screen TV is replacing an outdated piece of technology, consumers are being reminded about a state law that requires them to recycle their old electronics.
Thad Nation with Wired Wisconsin says there are places to do that all over the state, including retailers, Goodwill center and local government collection sites. The DNR maintains a list on its website of over 400 locations statewide that accept old electronics.
The main reason to “ecycle” is because of environmental concerns. The components in those devices contain toxic chemicals that should be kept out landfills.
For devices such as new smart phones or computers, Nation says it’s important to make sure you erase your personal data before recycling. Hard drives should be removed or erased and phones should be restored to their factory default settings.
It’s not just phones or television sets that need to be recycled though. Nation says just about “anything in your home with a plug” probably has components in it that should be kept out of landfills.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:19)
