Recycle those old seasonal lights
Many communities that are members of the of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County are hosting a drop-off for residents to bring old or burned out string lights and extension cords.
This program is for a limited time and has no cost to residents that participate. Be mindful that garland, live greens, wreaths or other organic materials, as well as nonrecyclables, are not accepted in this program.
The following communities have drop-off locations: Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Hoffman Estates, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Mount Prospect, Niles, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Skokie, Wheeling, Wilmette and Winnetka.
The exact locations and drop-off hours can be found at swancc.org. Last year, a total of 32,888 pounds of lights were recycled from SWANCC communities as part of this seasonal program.
"Every year, residents find themselves purchasing new strands of lights due to burned out bulbs, incomplete strands, wanting a different color, etc. Through this recycling program, materials will be reclaimed, reprocessed, made into new products and kept out of the landfills - making the season much brighter," states Mary Allen, SWANCC's Recycling and Education director.
SWANCC's participating communities partner 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. More information can be obtained at elginrecycling.com.
For other SWANCC programs visit swancc.org.
SWANCC Holiday Lights Program participants include:
• Arlington Heights Public Works, 222 N. Ridge Ave. 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Feb. 26. (847) 368-5800.
• Arlington Heights village hall health department, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Feb. 27. (847) 368-5760
• Barrington Public Works, 300 N. Raymond Ave. 24-hour outside drop-off at Public Works office entrance, through March 20. (847) 381-7903
• Buffalo Grove village hall, 50 Raupp Blvd. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday through March 31. (847) 459-2530
• Buffalo Grove Police Department, 46 Raupp Blvd. 24-hour drop-off through March 31. (847) 459-2560
• Elk Grove Village Community Development Counter, 901 Wellington Ave. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through March 31. (847) 357-4220
• Glenview Public Works: 1333 Shermer Road. 24-hour outside drop-off at Public Works through Feb. 26. (847) 657-3030
• Hoffman Estates village hall lobby, 1900 Hassell Road. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-noon Saturday through Feb. 5. (847) 882-9100
• Mount Prospect Public Works, 1700 W. Central Road. 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Feb. 28. (847) 870-5640
• Park Ridge Public Works Service Center, 400 Busse Highway. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday March 1. (847) 318-5240
• Prospect Heights city hall, 8 N. Elmhurst Road. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through March 1. (847) 398-6070
• Rolling Meadows, 3600 Kirchoff Road. 24-hour outside drop-off at City Hall entrance, through Feb. 12. (847) 394-8500
• Wheeling Public Works, 77 W. Hintz Road, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Jan. 27. (847) 279-6900
The SWANCC is an intergovernmental agency that was established in 1988 and is comprised of 23 communities.
SWANCC provides member residents a variety of waste reduction and recycling services, programs and resource materials. These include collections for special materials that cannot go into the curbside recycling cart or should not go into the garbage due to toxicity or recoverability such as computer and electronics, prescription drugs and sharps, compact fluorescent light bulbs, mercury thermometers, holiday lights and batteries.
For more information, visit swancc.org.