Dane County, URT Recyclers: Free e-waste recycling collection this Saturday

Contacts: Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823; Jan Neitzel-Knox, Dane County Public Works (608) 266-4029

Free Event Opportunity to Safely Dispose of Old TVs, Computers, & Other Electronics

The Dane County and Universal Recycling Technology free electronic waste collection will be held this Saturday, June 19th at the Alliant Energy Center from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

County Executive Kathleen Falk will be one of several dozen volunteers unloading cars at the free event.

“This free collection is the perfect opportunity to do a little house cleaning while helping clean up our lakes and lands,” County Executive Kathleen Falk said.

More than 10,000 cars went through the lines at last year’s free e-waste collection and dropped off 800,000 pounds of old electronics. Last year’s event is believed to be the largest of its kind in North America. To help move people through quicker this year, there will be more volunteers, additional drop-off lanes will be set up, and more crates and trucks will be on site ready to be loaded up to take the old electronics back to URT’s national headquarters in Janesville.

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.

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. No air conditioners, microwaves, dehumidifiers, vacuums, toasters, or large appliances will be collected.

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.

Ten Huber inmates will help set up the e-waste collection with an 25 additional Huber inmates assisting the team of volunteers with unloading cars and loading up boxes, crates, and trucks the day of the event.

Volunteers are still needed to help unload cars and/or help coordinate traffic at the drop-off site. Those able to help 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 knox@co.dane.wi.us>