For many Denver residents, the post-holiday season often brings the discovery of old and dysfunctional holiday lights among the festive decorations, but before tossing them into the trash, consider a greener solution. Last year, the city saw more than two tons of holiday lights recycled, amounting to 4,352 lbs., an effort that not only reduces waste but also repurposes materials that would otherwise contribute to environmental degradation.
The opportunity to recycle those strings of twinkling lights that no longer spark joy, or electricity, for that matter, is once again upon us and it's as simple as visiting one of the local drop-off sites, the Cherry Creek Recycling Center or Blue Star Recyclers, offering free recycling through January 2, but keep in mind, recycled lights should not be placed in purple recycling carts, they must be taken directly to the specified recycling centers, for those who may have previously thought it was okay to mix them with general recyclables, this is now a chance to do your part properly.
According to the City and County of Denver, accepted items for recycling include light strings and wires with incandescent, LED, and "icicle" lights with attached bulbs, however, bubble lights and neon lights aren't accepted, and all lights must be free from packaging such as plastic bags or cardboard boxes before drop-off.
The designated drop-off locations are at the Cherry Creek Recycling Center, situated near S. Quebec St. and E. Cherry Creek South Drive, open for drop-offs Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with closure on Sundays, Mondays, and city holidays, also recycling can be done at Blue Star Recyclers, located at 953 Decatur St. Denver, CO 80204, open for drop-offs Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., also they will be closed December 24 to January 1, with operations resuming January 2, as detailed on the website.
Additionally, Denver's Treecycle program will begin on December 26, encouraging residents to recycle their holiday trees at designated drop-off sites. The recycled trees will be transformed into mulch, available for free to Denver residents in the spring, offering a sustainable way to dispose of your tree, rather than leaving it out for large item pickup, where it would not be repurposed in the same way.
