FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
As the holiday season approaches, many merrymakers are untangling their holiday lights only to find they won’t light up. Don’t just toss them! Recycle them through a new string light collection opportunity available Nov. 26 – Jan. 18 at two City recycling drop-off centers.
Through a partnership with CMC Recycling, Springfield Environmental Services will offer free holiday light recycling during normal operating hours 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday at the Lone Pine Avenue Recycling Center (3020 S. Lone Pine Ave.) and Franklin Avenue Recycling Center (731 N. Franklin Ave.).
“String lights are notorious for causing disruptions in waste processing machinery, which is why they require special care and handling and cannot be put in your curbside recycling bin,” explains Market Development Coordinator Ashley Krug. “However, string light and cords represent a significant chunk of holiday waste and can also be hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly. We’re excited to offer this new drop-off opportunity for our citizens so we can help reduce what’s going to our landfill.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans throw away approximately 25 million tons of garbage during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period. That’s 25% more than average and accounts for 1 million extra tons per week. Holiday lights, like many electronic products, can contain various materials and components that can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly. String lights are made up of a combination of plastic, glass, and copper. When these lights are recycled at a specialized facility, they are dismantled, allowing the individual materials to be repurposed and used again.
Holiday lights accepted at the Franklin and Lone Pine facilities include:
- Mini-lights (or Italian lights)
- C7 lights
- C9 lights
- Rope lights
- LED lights
- Extension cords
NOT Accepted: Artificial lighted garlands, wreaths and Christmas trees
Other holiday recycling and repurposing options available in Springfield:
Aside from broken string lights, Environmental Services reminds folks that a significant amount of holiday waste and used décor items can recycled or repurposed through donation, reducing the uptick in holiday waste taken to Springfield’s Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill.
“We always encourage people to consider ways to make more joyful memories instead of making more waste,” says Krug. “Spend more time with family and friends. Give experiential gifts like a dinner out, a membership or an online subscription instead of more stuff.”
For those holiday items that can’t be reduced, Krug suggests that by recycling and donating, valuable landfill space can be saved for many Christmases to come. See the following tips below for holiday recycling resources. To learn more about recycling and repurposing options for thousands of additional items, visit the City’s new Waste Wizard searchable database at springfieldmo.gov/wastewizard.
SEASONAL RECYCLING RESOURCES:
Artificial Trees & Holiday Décor:
Artificial trees and holiday decor in usable condition are accepted for free at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore (2410 S. Scenic Ave.) as well as Missouri Council of the Blind Thrift Stores (2713 N. Kansas Expy.) This is a great way to give your tree a second chance and bring holiday cheer to a new family.
“Trees and decor in poor condition may also be disposed at the Springfield Sanitary Landfill. But we really urge residents to think of the trash as a last resort for all items,” Krug adds. “About 70% of the materials we find in the landfill could have been recycled.”
Household holiday recyclables:
The following holiday items are accepted at the Lone Pine (3020 S. Lone Pine Ave.), Franklin Avenue (731 N. Franklin Ave.) and Yardwaste Recycling Center (3790 S. Farm Road 119, Brookline) facilities open Tuesday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed Nov. 25, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1):
- Paper – Wrapping paper, wrapping tissue paper, greeting cards and paper decor with no foil or glitter are accepted.
- Paperboard gift boxes and wrapping paper tubes are accepted. These technically qualify as paper, so please deposit in the paper bin.
- Corrugated cardboard boxes are accepted. Please flatten to save space.
- Plastic, glass & aluminum beverage containers from your holiday parties. Please rinse out first.
- Plastic food containers and metal cans from your holiday meal prep. Must be rinsed and free of food. No need to remove lids or labels. Aluminum pans from your Turkey or casseroles are NOT accepted. No plastic bags please!
Plastic Shopping Bags:
Residents are encouraged to grab their reusable bags and totes before heading to the stores. This is a great way to reduce single-use plastics that ultimately end up in the landfill.
If you forget your totes at home, plastic bags can be recycled at some large retail locations. Many thrift stores will also accept clean, usable plastic bags. Call first to check if a location is accepting bags.
Learn more about how to recycle, repurpose and create less waste throughout the holiday season by following @SGFEnvironmentalServices on facebook or Instagram. For questions about recycling opportunities in Springfield visit springfieldmo.gov/recycling.
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Media Contact: Communications Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
