DNR Providing $250,000 In Grants For Recycling Electronics In Underserved Areas

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications for the E-Cycle Wisconsin Electronics Collection Grant. The grants are for projects that will host an electronics collection site or event between June 2025 and December 2026. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30.

Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law, which took effect in 2010, banned many electronics from the trash. It also created E-Cycle Wisconsin, a manufacturer-funded program managed by the DNR that supports a statewide network of electronics collectors and recyclers. Since its inception, households and schools have recycled 420 million pounds of electronics through E-Cycle Wisconsin.

The DNR plans to award up to $250,000 in grants to businesses, local and tribal governmental bodies, and nonprofits for this round, with the following maximum award amounts:

• Maximum award per collection event: $5,000
• Maximum award per permanent collection site: $15,000

Financial support for additional collection sites and events will make it easier for residents in those areas to recycle unwanted electronics. The DNR will prioritize projects in counties that do not have a permanent collection site registered under E-Cycle Wisconsin that is open to all residents. This includes projects in Calumet, Crawford, Florence, Forest, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Marinette, Marquette, Price and Taylor counties.

Since 2022, the DNR has awarded more than $260,000 to projects in 30 counties, mostly in rural areas. These projects supported the development of five permanent collection sites and 53 one-day collection events between August 2022 and August 2025.

“Our first three rounds of grants were really successful and contributed to unprecedented access to electronics recycling throughout Wisconsin,” said Sarah Murray, DNR Recycling and Solid Waste Section manager. “We’re excited to help more rural communities offer electronics collection to their residents. Our goal is to make convenient, affordable electronics recycling available statewide.”

The amount awarded for grants each year is based on available funds from fees electronics manufacturers pay as part of the E-Cycle Wisconsin program.

For more details and a link to the application form, visit the DNR’s E-Cycle Wisconsin Information for Collectors webpage.

The DNR has an up-to-date, interactive list of E-Cycle Wisconsin collection sites and mail-back programs. The list allows residents to map nearby collection sites, look up locations by county, and find free trade-in and mail-back programs.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.