County residents still have place to recycle appliances

Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law, bans all electronics from the state’s landfills and incinerators. Electronics contain valuable reusable materials, including plastics, metals and glass.

Recycling or reusing these materials, lessens environmental impacts and economic costs, by reducing the need for virgin materials in new products.

Many electronics also contain harmful materials, including lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, other heavy metals and chemical flame retardants. When improperly disposed of, these chemicals can pollute soil and water, and harm human health.

Improperly handled e-waste may also pose health risks to workers in the United States, and in developing countries.

Because of recent changes, Chippewa County will no longer accept appliances and electronics at the Clean Sweeps, at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. Instead, the county has contracted with First Choice, at 525 Park Ridge Court, in Eau Claire, to accept appliances and electronics during their business hours.

Residents may recycle these items, Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All TVs, non-freon appliances and electronics are free for Chippewa County residents.

The only charges are for the freon appliances, batteries and fluorescent bulbs.

TVs, computers (desktop, laptop, tablet computers), printers, monitors, keyboards, mice, speakers, flash drives, e-readers, DVD players, VCRs and video players (DVRs), fax machines, cell phones, air conditioners, washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerators, freezers, stove, oven, dehumidifier, furnaces, boilers, water heaters and microwave ovens, must be recycled.