Free holiday light recycling in West Chicago

West Chicago, Illinois: Nov. 22, 2011 - As residents start pulling out boxes of holiday lights and finding strands that no longer work, or they begin switching those lights to environmentally friendly LED lights and need to dispose of old incandescent lights, the West Chicago Environmental Commission is encouraging them to recycle them rather than throw them away. Recycling is an environmentally friendly alternative to putting lights in landfills.

To make recycling easier, the City of West Chicago will offer free holiday light recycling beginning Nov. 25.

Strands of incandescent and LED holiday lights, and household extension cords in any condition, may be dropped off at the locations listed below during normal business hours. Signs will be posted directing people to the holiday light recycling containers. All locations will accept lights and cords for recycling through March 30, 2012.

2011 Drop-off Locations

Murphy Ace Hardware, 319 S. Neltnor Blvd.

West Chicago City Hall, 475 Main St.

West Chicago Public Library, 118 W. Washington St.

West Chicago Police Department, 325 Spencer St.

West Chicago Water Treatment Plant, 1400 W. Hawthorne Lane

The lights and cords will be collected by Elgin Recycling, stripped, and recycled for their copper and plastic parts. No materials will be shipped overseas for disposal.

In addition to residents, the city also welcomes businesses, schools and other organizations wanting to dispose of holiday lights to participate in the program. There is no limit as to how many lights that may be dropped off for recycling.

Last year, the Environmental Commission and Elgin Recycling were successful with a similar drive in West Chicago, collecting a total of 1,209 pounds of holiday lights that would have otherwise gone into a landfill.