Holiday e-cycling reminder

GREEN BAY - As the holidays approach, the latest electronic gadgets may top your holiday shopping list. But what should you do with your old electronics that have toxic stuff in them?

It's actually illegal to throw things like TVs, cell phones and computer monitors in the trash. So what can you do? Let's take a look at where you can "e-cycle."

"I brought in a 52 inch flat screen TV, plasma. I guess it just died. They die like after 6 years or so,” said Kelly Marinoff of Green Bay.

Marinoff dropped off her old electronics at Cyber Works on Mason Street Tuesday.

• Click here to find an electronics collection site near you.

"It's bad for the environment, for one. It was very convenient. I work just up the street,” said Marinoff.

Cyber Works says this time of year, brings with it, a holiday rush.

"At Christmas time with all the new stuff coming into the home, January’s actually a very big time of year when everyone has to get the old stuff out of the way to get the new stuff in,” said Jim Overly, owner of Cyber Works.

Overly says a large pile of discarded electronics is from one day of "e-cycling." And he says, overall, the store has collected 600,000 pounds of electronics this year.

"Cyber Works has been collecting from the business community for a long time. As they passed the law consumers could no longer throw electronics into the trash. We just felt it was our civic duty to the community to collect,” he said.

Since the e-cycling law took affect, the DNR says its collected 100 million pounds statewide. That's 6.8 pounds per person.

Folks with the DNR say it's important to keep the waste out of landfill space.

“With electronics it's even more important because there are a lot of harmful materials that are in there for example in old TVs there's leaded glass in there. There's also mercury and other potential contaminants,” said Marcy McGrath, the e-cycle compliance coordinator with the Wisconsin DNR.

Depending on which site you choose, and what items you are dropping off, you may be required to pay an e-cycling fee.

In this season of red and green, the DNR says it hopes folks will go green, and e-cycle.