Recycle Your Holiday Lights

recycle lights, recycling holiday lights, where to recycle holiday lights, how to recycle holiday lights, Christmas lights, trade in Christmas lights, Holiday LEDs, holiday light distributors, string lights, Lights for Life, what to do when you have old Christmas lightsUpgrading your Christmas tree to LED lights? Or just have some old strings of lights that don’t work anymore? Don’t toss the old Christmas lights — recycle them!

Lights for Life is a small non-profit that collects and recycles string lights (and other items that contain copper). They sell the copper for recycling and the proceeds are donated to a family that has a child battling cancer. (Some ACE Hardware stores serve as drop-off locations.)

There are several holiday light distributors that accept old string lights via mail. They recycle them and send you a coupon for 10 to 25 percent off purchases of new lights or holiday decorations.

For more information, visit these websites:

Looking for a local recycling option? Search “string lights” at Earth911.com.

The Home Depot has a Christmas Light Trade-In program each year in early November. In 2010, each string of lights was worth a $3 discount on any purchase. If this is the last year you’ll be using your old string lights, mark your calendar to check Home Depot’s website for details in October 2011.