Wisconsin Awarded Grants for Electronics Recycling
The state funding supports 39 projects to improve access to e-waste disposal across 35 counties through 2027.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Environmental
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has awarded $250,000 to fund 39 electronics recycling projects throughout the state. The program will support two permanent collection sites and as many as 55 one-day events to expand regional capacity.
Why it matters
These grants prioritize counties currently lacking permanent collection sites to ensure that rural and underserved areas have affordable access to electronics recycling. The initiative aims to reduce e-waste accumulation by lowering logistical barriers for local residents.
The program distributes $250,000 across 39 projects, covering 35 counties. These resources are allocated to establish two permanent sites and facilitate up to 55 one-day events.
The players
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The state agency responsible for implementing environmental policy and managing the E-Cycle Wisconsin regulatory framework.
The details
Recipients utilize the funding to handle the logistics of collecting and managing discarded electronics. The program serves as a financial mechanism to bridge the gap for municipalities and private recyclers that otherwise lack the infrastructure for permanent collection. This effort is specifically designed to integrate these new nodes into the existing E-Cycle Wisconsin network, which oversees collector registration and statewide recycling standards.
Timeline
The grant projects will operate throughout the 2026-2027 cycle.
The Tech Race
These grants align with the state-mandated targets established by the E-Cycle Wisconsin program. The initiative follows a pattern of localized infrastructure development aimed at closing service gaps in the state’s recycling network.
Residents in the 35 participating counties will gain access to 55 new one-day collection events and two permanent sites over the next two years. These additions replace the need for long-distance travel to dispose of consumer electronics properly.
The takeaway
The state is prioritizing infrastructure expansion to ensure that electronics recycling is physically accessible for all residents. Future updates will track the successful establishment of the two permanent collection sites through the 2027 project period.
Further reading
Learn more about the requirements for regional providers on the Wisconsin Environmental portal.
More information
Review the program requirements on the E-Cycle Wisconsin Information for Collectors webpage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Weau.
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