March 2024 Trivia Answer

The answer is D - 2 billion dollars

A recent study estimated that the annual value of all e-waste in Minnesota was $2.8 billion. Since we throw away three-fourths of that total, that’s 2 billion dollars of precious metals in Minnesota put into landfills or incinerated every year. 

MCEA is interested in supporting the collection of these metals for many reasons - it’s important to keep these metals out of landfills and incinerators because they leach toxins. They’re also unsafe for workers and the cause of most fires in processing facilities. 

But it’s also connected to our work protecting Minnesota’s water from unsafe mining practices. Right now, the U.S. recycles just 33% of our copper, compared to a 60% recycling rate in Europe. If we could increase that to a 50% recycling rate, that would equal the annual output of 13 PolyMet mines! Recycling can provide the materials needed for our clean energy infrastructure. Learn more at our Critical Conversations page, Mining the Climate Crisis. 

And don’t forget to tell your legislators you support e-waste recycling in Minnesota.