After months of our campaigning and hundreds of citizens voicing their support, the legislature approved the electronic waste recycling bill for old TVs, computers and other electronic equipment. On Oct. 23, Wisconsin Environment Director Dan Kohler, Sen. Mark Miller and Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber attended as Gov. Doyle signed the bill into law.

Passing the e-waste recycling bill is a great victory for public health and our environment. Old electronic equipment contains toxic chemicals -- such as lead and mercury -- that can harm our environment and public health. Wisconsin Environment worked hard to pass this bill because our old computers and TVs shouldn’t end up in landfills or sit around in our basements.

By winning this campaign, we will prevent an estimated 10,000 tons of computer monitors and 24,000 tons of televisions from being land-filled every year in Wisconsin.

It is important that we thank the legislators who voted in favor of the bill. Click here to thank your Senator for voting for the bill.

I want to thank all of the citizens who have supported this effort. Over the summer, when the bill faced opposition from Apple and other manufacturers, we asked you to contact your legislators to ask them to support the bill. More than 1,500 of you responded with emails and phone calls flooding the Capitol with overwhelming support for this important program.

Your help, along with our advocacy in the capitol, research documenting the extent of the problem, and our work with counties and cities across Wisconsin helped overcome special interest opposition to finally get our state to enact a program for electronic equipment.

Wisconsin has long been a leader with recycling programs for cans, bottles and papers. But until now, Wisconsin was behind the times for electronics recycling. This campaign shows how we can make a difference protecting our environment and public health.