Go Green! Recycle Holiday Lights

If your holiday spirit shined a little too bright this years and your lights find have burned out bulbs or broken/incomplete strands, consider recycling the strings of lights you no longer need as part of the Holiday Light Recycling Program that Arlington Heights is offering through a program managed by Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC). 

Through this recycling program, materials will be reclaimed, reprocessed, made into new products and kept out of the landfills – making the holiday season much brighter! 

From now until Feb. 22, all holiday string lighting and extension cords can be dropped off for recycling at Health Services on the first floor of Village Hall at 33 S. Arlington Heights Road, or at the Public Works facility, 222 N. Ridge Avenue. The drop-off time at Health Services is Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at Public Works the drop-off time is Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

SWANCC and the participating communities have partnered with Elgin Recycling Inc. to recycle the lights and cords. The strands are separated and baled and sent to be chopped or shredded and sold as a commodity to foundries and mills in the United States.

Garland, live greens, wreaths or other non-recyclables are not accepted in this program. 

Information provided by the Village of Arlington Heights.