Recycle Holiday Lights

Do you have a pile of burned-out holiday lights? Are you replacing your traditional holiday light strands with energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lights? This holiday season, don’t throw out your old light strands. Recycle them! Holiday light recycling programs take your old strands and recycle the copper wire inside them.

Several retailers and other businesses in the area now accept old holiday lights for recycling. Here is a partial list:

• McLendon’s Hardware – all 6 Puget Sound locations (external)
• Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium – Seattle (Girl Scouts of Western WA) and Tacoma locations (external)
• Ilalko Elementary School program – 18 Auburn locations (external)
• HolidayLightsRecycling.com – 3 Federal Way locations (external)
• Ace Hardware stores – Magnolia and Maple Leaf (external) Ace Hardwares (Seattle)
• HolidayLEDs.com Christmas Light Recycling – Mail-in recycling program (external)

Most of those locations will accept lights until at least January 15. Call first when possible to confirm they are taking the lights and find out exactly where the bin is located.

Other businesses and organizations may also offer holiday light recycling programs. When shopping for new holiday lights at retailers, ask if they have a program.

Learn more about eco-tastic holiday décor.

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