Old Holiday String Lights DON’T Go in Curb It! Carts

Here is How You CAN Recycle Them

Holiday string lights are flying off of the store shelves everywhere as folks start their holiday decorating. Ever wonder what to do with the tangle of old, unreliable holiday string lights – the ones that don’t work after being stored in your basement or attic? They ARE recyclable – but NOT in your Curb It! Recycling Cart.

Here’s why. Holiday string lights wreak havoc with sorting equipment at the recycling center, wrapping around the mechanisms and bringing the process to a halt completely until someone untangles the mess. Since the lights ARE recyclable, here’s how you CAN recycle them.

LOCALLY
Alter Metal Recycling – 1810 E. Hull, Des Moines, IA  50313 (515.262.0764), M-F from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This service is free. Call first.

Midwest Electronic Recovery – 7420 University Ave. (Suite A), Clive, IA  50325 (515.226.9990),
M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.;  Sat. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The service is free. Light bulbs must be removed from the wire string. Call first.

Lowe's stores offer a convenient receptacle to drop off your old holiday lights for recycling, though it's not offering any rebates or coupons.


MAIL-IN
Christmas Light Source Recycling Program, 1923 6th Ave., Ft. Worth, TX  76110 (866.926.4877). The lights sets are recycled and proceeds are used to purchase books for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in Dallas-Ft. Worth. Reward coupons available for purchase of new lights.

HolidayLED Christmas Light Recycling Program, C/O Classic Turning, Inc. 4905 James McDivitt St., Jackson, MI 49201-8958 (866.217.1461). Reward coupons available for purchase of new lights.

For more information on what else you can recycle, check out our Recycling Guide or call 515.244.0021