Yes! Recycling Christmas and holiday lights is fast and easy. If you live in Marion County, IN there are many opportunities for electronic waste recycling (call to confirm they are taking holiday lights). For Christmas lights specifically, the Indianapolis Zoo is accepting these tangly strands now through January 5, 2025. Find the donation bins at the Visitor Services Center.
Nationwide, HolidayLEDs.com has a free (you only pay for shipping) light recycling program which sends you a coupon to use on their website upon receipt of your strands.
Why recycle holiday lights?
Let’s face it. Your holiday lights don’t last forever. When they reach the end of life they often end up as a mess of wires on the floor or stuffed in a box to be dealt with next year. Lights (and other decorations) can’t be recycled at most Christmas tree recycling drop offs.
String lights, like any electronics, can be harmful to the environment and leach chemicals into groundwater when disposed of improperly. Additionally, if they are sitting around in landfills, the wires can pose a threat to animals who might get caught in the strands.
Take a moment this year to dispose of your holiday decorations wisely. Your wallet, the earth, and our groundwater will appreciate it!
