Where to recycle your holiday lights

The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County and its member communities are offering a Holiday Light Recycling Program free to its residents.

All holiday string lighting and extension cords can be dropped off at various locations throughout Northern Cook County. Garland, live greens, wreaths or other 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, Palatine, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Skokie, Wheeling, Wilmette and Winnetka. The exact locations and drop-off hours can be found at swancc.org.

“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,” said Mary Allen, SWANCC’s Recycling and Education director.

SWANCC and the participating communities have partnered 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.

For other SWANCC programs visit swancc.org.

Holiday light recycling locations include:

Ÿ Arlington Heights Public Works: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Feb. 28, 222 N. Ridge Ave. (847) 368-5800.

Ÿ Arlington Heights Village Hall Health Department: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Feb. 28, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road. (847) 368-5760

Ÿ Barrington Public Works: 24-hour outside drop off through March 5, public works entrance, 300 N Raymond Ave. (847) 381-7903.

Ÿ Buffalo Grove Village Hall: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday through Feb. 28, 50 Raupp Blvd. (847) 459-2530.

Ÿ Buffalo Grove Police Department: 24-hour drop off through Feb. 28, 46 Raupp Blvd. (847) 459-2530.

Elk Grove Village Health and Community Services Office: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through March 14, 901 Wellington Ave. (847) 357-4006.

Ÿ Glenview Public Works: 24-hour outside drop off through Feb. 28, 1333 Shermer Road. (847) 657-3030.

Hoffman Estates Village Hall Lobby: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through Feb. 3, 1900 Hassell Road. (847) 882-9100.

Mount Prospect Public Works: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Feb. 28, 1700 W. Central Road.

(847) 870-5640.

Palatine Village Hall: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Jan. 31, Environmental Health Division, 200 E Wood St.

Park Ridge Public Works Service Center: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Jan. 31, 400 Busse Highway. (847) 318-5240.

Prospect Heights City Hall: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday through April 1, 8 N. Elmhurst Road. (847) 398-6070.

Rolling Meadows City Hall: 24-hour drop off at entrance through Feb. 7, 3600 Kirchoff Road. (847) 394-8500.

Wheeling Public Works: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Feb. 28, 77 W Hintz Road. (847) 279-6900.