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Ready to take down the decorations? Here’s how to make your holiday lights eco-friendly!
Every year, I pull out those tangled Christmas lights, fingers crossed that they’ll still work as part of my holiday decorations. But, like clockwork, at least one strand flickers out, leaving me with the classic holiday conundrum: what now?
Throwing them in the trash might seem easiest, but here’s the catch: those lights don’t just vanish. When tossed, they end up in landfills, where plastic coatings and metals like copper and lead can harm the environment (can take up to 450 years to decompose) for years.
Recycling Christmas lights isn’t just about decluttering or feeling green – it actually prevents toxic materials from leaching into our soil and water. Plus, every recycled strand means we’re giving a little something back to the planet.
From copper wiring to plastic casings, each part of those old lights can be repurposed with a bit of extra effort. So, before you toss those broken strands or broken bulbs, let’s look at how easy it is to recycle Christmas lights and make your holiday season a little brighter – for you and the Earth.
Are Christmas Lights Recyclable?
Yes, and they absolutely should be! Those festive holiday lights may seem like pure decoration, but each strand is packed with valuable materials like copper, glass, and plastic. Rather than tossing them in the trash, which only clutters up landfills, why not give them a new life?
Picture this: every holiday season, millions of strings of lights are thrown away. And where do they end up? Landfills and oceans, where the plastic coatings and metals take centuries to decompose. Recycling Christmas lights not only keeps these pollutants out of our ecosystem but also helps preserve resources we’d otherwise have to mine from scratch.
Here’s the cool part.
The copper wiring inside your old lights is a recycling goldmine. Copper wire is in high demand because it’s endlessly recyclable – one set of lights can turn into fresh copper wiring for new products.
By recycling string lights, we’re reducing the need for copper mining, which takes a heavy toll on our planet. So, next time your lights give up on you, don’t just reach for the trash can. Drop them off at a recycling center or use a mail-in program to keep the holiday spirit green!
How To Recycle Your Old Christmas Lights?
Let me now show you what you can do with your old holiday lights.
1. Bring Them To A Recycling Center
By far, the best way to recycle Christmas lights is to bring or send them to a legitimate and certified recycling center. The reason this is important is the fact that such companies have to follow very strict guidelines in order to get those certifications.
They have to prove that they handle all the materials in a safe way and that they use authorized services and processes to deal with toxic materials. You’ll have the peace of mind that the company you choose will ethically and safely handle the processing and disposal. Consider using the smallest box for packaging to ensure efficient shipping and potentially save on costs.
They will also ensure that your holiday lights don’t end up in a developing country where unscrupulous organizations might simply burn away the plastic to get at the valuable copper in the cheapest possible way.
2. Donate Them
This should be at the top of your list if you have working Christmas lights that you no longer need. You might have unwanted lights because you’re upgrading to energy-efficient LED lights to save on electricity costs.
If your Christmas lights still have some sparkle left in them, consider giving them a second chance by donating them to a local thrift store.
Many thrift stores gladly accept gently used holiday lights, especially if they’re still in working condition. By donating, you’re helping someone else decorate their home affordably and sustainably – plus, you’re keeping your old lights out of landfills!
Now, here’s a quick tip: check the lights before donating. Thrift stores generally appreciate donations that are ready-to-use, so test each strand to ensure it lights up. For those pesky broken strings, recycling might be the better route.
My personal favorite option is to donate them to Goodwill. If you have one of their stores or centers near you, then simply contact them before going there to make sure they will take the Christmas lights.
Habitat for Humanity is another great option, with plenty of places around the USA to bring them.
And you can also check local charity stores for different organizations. Most of these will be more than happy to take in working Christmas lights.
3. Bring Them To Hardware Stores
If you’re going to be heading to one of your local hardware stores to get new holiday lights, then you could save yourself a trip and a bit of effort by simply bringing the old ones with you.
Many stores will have a recycling drop-off point for all types of electronics, and it can be the most convenient way to recycle Christmas lights as you’re heading there anyway.
Here are some of the main stores that you can check out in your local area:
Some smaller local stores might also have a recycling service, so you could always contact them as well.
Contact Your Local Solid Waste Center
And finally, many municipal waste centers will also have a recycling drop-off point for e-waste. Some of them process holiday lights and other stuff on-site, while others then partner with specialized service providers.
Either way, if you have a waste center near you, then that could be a convenient way to do the right thing.
Why You Should Recycle Your Christmas Lights
Recycling your Christmas lights is more important than you might think. Every year, countless strands of lights are thrown away, and when you consider the millions of us decking out our Christmas trees, the scale of this issue becomes clear.
1. Cut Down on Landfill Waste
I've lost count of how many times I've been mid-tree decorating when, oops, I realized I needed new lights. While modern LED lights last longer, there's always that one strand that just won't light up. Imagine millions of these lights broken and tossed away. By recycling them, we can significantly reduce this waste.
2. Save Precious Resources
Recycling isn't just about reducing landfill clutter; it's about conserving raw materials too. Less recycling means less need for new materials, reducing mining for metals and the demand for oil to make plastic. This step alone can prevent a lot of environmental harm, and it's a key part of what's called the 'circular economy.'
3. Lower Your Energy Consumption
Switching out old lights for LED or incandescent ones cuts down your energy use. I've even tried solar Christmas lights – and let me tell you, they're a game-changer. Not only are they eco-friendly, but your electricity bill will thank you too. Check out my reviews on some great solar light options.
So, recycling your old Christmas lights and upgrading to more efficient ones is a win-win. You reduce waste, save resources, and even cut down on your energy bills.
It's a small step with big benefits for our planet!
Where To Recycle Christmas Lights?
OK, so you know why it’s important to recycle your old holiday lights; now it’s time to show you how GreenCitizen can help you make this process as easy as possible.
While the company specializes in high-tech electronics recycling, it works in partnership with Zarc Recycling to handle Christmas lights. This company then grinds down the lights and separates the materials into metal and plastic for proper reuse and disposal.
Electronics Recycling Drop-off - San Francisco Bay Area Only
GreenCitizen is a certified electronics recyler in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the company specializes in dealing with all types of electronic waste.
If you live in the area, then you can use the drop-off service for your Christmas light strings by following these steps:
This process really couldn’t be much easier, and you’ll be dealing with a reputable and certified company.
Mail-In Electronics Recycling - US-Wide Service
If you have some broken lights and don’t live close enough to the GreenCitizen company headquarters, then you can use this convenient mail-in service.
Here’s what you need to do:
This is a good option if you don’t live close to any recycling centers and still want to do the right thing to avoid environmental pollution.
Green Directory - US-Wide Service
And if you don’t want to go through the mailing process, then you can use the Green Directory to find a certified local company that will process your Christmas light strings.
Simply enter your zip code and what you want to recycle, and you’ll get a long list of close recycling centers.
How To Reuse Christmas Lights
Now, there is an alternative to recycling holiday lights.
Most of the newer Christmas lights you buy don’t become useless just because one bulb is gone. It might mean that not all of them will light up, but they may still be perfectly suitable for some home improvement projects with the kids.
Let me give you a couple of examples.
One way my kids made use of them at home is to wrap them around a wardrobe for a very fun effect. For some kids, this can even be a solution for going to sleep in the dark.
One set of lights, we used clear LEDs, and they were made suitable for outdoor use. We simply wrapped them around our patio area and turned them on for evening family time in the summer.
With a bit of imagination and help from your kids, you’ll find endless ways to make use of old holiday lights as home improvement projects.
FAQ
Yes, Lowes recycles old Christmas lights. Each store has a recycling station, which is usually at the entrance where you can drop off broken lights. And it doesn’t have to be during the holiday season as they will accept them at any time.
Recycling centers and most DIY stores take old Christmas lights. This is the easiest way if you want to make sure they are correctly dealt with. There are also some mail-in ways, which may be ideal if you don’t have a local drop-off point.
No, old Christmas lights generally aren’t worth anything, especially if they don’t work anymore. Some DIY stores offer store credit to encourage recycling, so you may want to keep an eye out for such offers.
Yes, Goodwill accepts Christmas decorations and lights year-round. Just keep in mind that you should ideally bring them to a local Goodwill store in working order, as they are probably not worth investing time and effort into fixing.
Recycled Christmas lights are broken down into their individual components to become the raw material for new products. Grinding up the strings separates the copper and PVC, and other metals are also removed. These are all valuable commodities for electronics manufacturing.
Do Your Part: Recycle Old Christmas Lights
As the holiday season winds down, remember that even small actions, like recycling or donating old Christmas lights, make a big difference. Instead of tossing out those tangled, broken, or outdated strings, consider the greener alternatives.
Whether you recycle the valuable materials or donate working lights to bring joy to someone else’s home, your choice adds a touch of sustainability to the holiday cheer.
So, before you take down the decorations, take a moment to think about where they’ll end up. By choosing eco-friendly disposal, you’re helping keep landfills lighter, oceans cleaner, and the planet just a little bit brighter. Here’s to a greener, more sustainable holiday season.
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It was interesting issue which worried me. Thank you!