Lane County Schools Open Registration for 2026 Electronics Recycling Competition

On November 19, 2025, Lane County Waste Management and partners launched registration for the 2026 Electronics Recycling Competition, inviting all county schools to participate in a program that combines waste reduction, student engagement, and local workforce development. Schools must register at wastewiselane.org/ERC by December 12 to take part in the event, which runs from January 6 to April 24, 2026.

The competition is a collaboration between Lane County schools, NextStep Recycling, and Waste Wise Lane County, part of Lane County Waste Management. Prizes include grants of up to $500 from Lane County Waste Management, a NextStep Reuse Store gift certificate, and a special recognition award for top performers. Eligible items for collection include microwaves, televisions, printers, cords and cables, cell phones, computers and accessories, tablets, game consoles, remotes, and audio visual equipment.

County leaders underline both the environmental and economic dimensions of the initiative. In 2025 a record 48 schools participated and together collected 41,491 pounds of electronic waste, an average of roughly 864 pounds per participating school. That scale of collection reduces the volume of hazardous materials entering the landfill stream and directs reusable electronics into local reuse and refurbishment channels. NextStep Recycling also uses its operations to provide education, job training and placement programs while protecting the environment from hazardous waste, linking the competition to workforce pathways for local residents.

For Lane County schools, the program offers direct budgetary and curricular benefits. Small grants can offset disposal costs or fund classroom projects, and the competition structure creates a measurable way for schools to demonstrate sustainability goals to families and district administrators. For the broader community, increased electronics diversion lowers long term environmental liability and supplies materials that can be refurbished or resold locally, supporting circular economy activity.

Schools and community supporters seeking to join should register at wastewiselane.org/ERC by December 12 for the January through April 2026 competition. The county frames the event as part of its ongoing effort to scale up electronic waste diversion while connecting students and job seekers to practical training opportunities.