More people in rural areas of the state are recycling their electronics. That’s according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

EGLE developed a new electronic waste, or e-waste, recycling program in 2019.

“Rural communities pushed hard for a program, so we knew there was a lot of demand,” said EGLE electronics recycling specialist, Steve Noble.

“EGLE’s recycling programs and grants provide a great foundation for expanding proper electronics recycling, particularly in underserved rural areas across Michigan, like the Upper Peninsula and northern, lower Michigan,” he said.

People in rural communities recycled over 300,000 pounds of e-waste, EGLE estimated. During the first half of 2020, the department said people have recycled around 100,000 pounds of e-waste. 

EGLE attributes the amounts to ease of access as a result of the 2019 and 2020 e-waste program. As a result of the program, a partnership formed between Goodwill of the U.P., northern Wisconsin and certified electronics recycling company, Comprenew, to create Comprenew@Goodwill. 

Comprenew@Goodwill now supports electronics recycling across the Upper Peninsula, with six permanent collection sites at Goodwill stores in Houghton, Iron Mountain, Escanaba, Sault Ste Marie, Menominee, and Marquette.

“While COVID-19 has slowed progress in a couple locations, good progress is still being made to continue expanding proper e-waste recycling across Michigan,” Noble said.

Schoolcraft County Conservation District established their own program with drop-off locations in the Manistique area, and an environmental group in Alger County is working on opening two drop-off sites in the county this fall.

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Bay Mills Indian Community have also been working with EGLE to add electronics to their recycling program.