Study: Minnesota throws away $2.8 billion in recyclable electronics every year

(St.Paul, MN) -- Minnesota's electronic waste is worth 2.8-billion-dollars each year.

That's according to a pilot study called "The Economic Potential of E-Waste Recycling in Minnesota," which found that over 266 pounds of e-waste are available for recycling in the state each year, but just under 24-percent is recycled.  The authors of the study say precious metals from such items as old TVs and cellphones are in high demand.

Metals like Iron, Copper, Tin, Aluminum, Lead, and several others are shown to make up a large portion of the materials that could be recovered. Those items can be recycled and reused to build various materials. The study says if 100% of the materials could be collected, approximately 441,000 solar panels and 155,000 electric vehicles could be created every year. 

You can find more information on the study by clicking here.