E-cycling Q&A with industry leaders in Wisconsin

Amy Dubruiel

Did you know two of the Midwest’s largest electronics recyclers are in Wisconsin?

Last year alone, Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations in Onalaska and Janesville-based Universal Recycling Technologies together recycled 16.5 million pounds of electronics from Wisconsin households and schools through the E-Cycle Wisconsin program. Both companies have been recycling electronics for over 10 years and employ hundreds of staff at multiple facilities across the U.S.

In the following Q&As, Miles Harter of Dynamic and Jim Cornwell of URT share their experiences with electronics recycling and their perspectives on how Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law has influenced the way they recycle.      

Miles Harter, CEO of Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations

Our job is to provide electronics recycling, information technology asset disposition (ITAD), materials recovery, data security and logistical services to clients who value trusted sustainability. We have about 300 team members between Wisconsin and Tennessee, with facilities totaling about 425,000 square feet. We offer our recycling services nationally and the rest internationally.

What are one or two things most people would be surprised to learn about electronics recycling?

1. Not all electronic recyclers are created equally. For example, a lot more of your electronic devices, such as mobile phones, have access to sensitive account information, pictures and data. Felons need jobs, but you may not want them handling your personal devices if they have had theft or fraud charges in the past. Using an established and reputable recycler can help avoid this problem.

2. How much can be reused. When most people recycle their electronics, they consider them junk, but in a number of cases, we can reuse parts and components from electronics that no longer work such as computers and laptops. Further, we have a no-landfill policy in Wisconsin, so everything is reused and recycled in one form or another.

3. Bonus: Most all electronics have gold and other precious metals. If they have a circuit board, they more than likely contain precious metals, although in trace amounts. One person can’t recover this value, but a large qualified recycler can.

How has electronics recycling changed in the last 10 years?

A lot. Even though the number of electronics is growing, the electronics recycling industry is actually contracting about 10% annually because of devices getting lighter (flat panels instead of cathode ray tube televisions is an example). Further, the chance of fires in electronic recycling facilities has grown rapidly with so many more electronics containing lithium ion batteries.

What difference has Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law made to your business?

A big one. Because of the state’s legislation, electronics are now recycled right here in the U.S., versus dumping the harmful waste in a landfill or, in many cases, sending a social problem to another country where they strip the value and dump the rest, which can cause mass polluting. Another benefit to others is the personal sense of peace or trust when using a quality recycler that all the personal data will not be exposed by falling into the wrong hands.

When you pick a recycler with trusted sustainability, you are giving yourself, your children and your neighbors a gift with security and cleaner land to live in. So this work gives us purpose through our mission.

Further, the adoption of the Wisconsin and Minnesota legislation planted a seed that has led to our growth, which now supports the Wisconsin economy in so many ways with bringing in nationwide and worldwide business locally as well as exporting quality end products. Finally, we have been able to create over 250 Wisconsin jobs.

What are the two or three biggest trends or challenges facing the industry over the next 10 years?

A currently shrinking industry because of lighter electronics and battery fires. The ongoing responsibility of eliminating risk and keeping our word to our customers.

Jim Cornwell, President of Universal Recycling Technologies

As a trusted leader in the e-waste recycling industry, we provide full-service electronic waste and universal waste recycling to every­one from municipalities and governments to individual consumers. Our complete transparency gives customers the peace of mind to know their materials have been processed exactly as promised. URT operates five locations across the country and processes well over 100 million pounds of material annually.

What are one or two things most people would be surprised to learn about electronics recycling?

We continue to innovate, using new technology to ensure the best value for our customers.  

How has electronics recycling changed in the last 10 years?

A lot of devices are getting smaller, lighter and contain batteries. The focus over the last decade has been developing processes and technology to allow us to manage older, CRT glass-bearing devices, while transitioning to managing newer items.

What difference has Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law made to your business?

Wisconsin’s law has allowed URT to reach more of our residential customers.  Without the law, the percent of Wisconsinites with access to low-cost or no-cost e-waste recycling would be much lower. The law allows more material to be diverted from Wisconsin landfills and more recovery of reusable commodities.

What are the two or three biggest trends or challenges facing the industry over the next 10 years?

The major trends include CRT glass being phased out of the waste stream, managing the volatile commodities markets (plastic, steel, aluminum, etc.), and the need for low-cost means for removing batteries from devices.

Amy Dubruiel is a senior waste management specialist in the DNR’s Waste and Materials Management Program.