Christmas Light Recycling: Give Your Old Lights a Second Life
The holiday season has come to an end, and you’re taking down your beautiful Christmas display. As you pack away decorations, you might wonder what to do with those old, worn-out light strands that have seen better days. Don’t throw them in the trash—light strands should never be thrown in the trash or curbside recycling bins, as they require special recycling methods and can jam machinery. At The Christmas Light Emporium, we believe in spreading joy while protecting our planet, which is why we’re proud to offer a simple Christmas light recycling program.
Why Recycle Christmas Lights?
Christmas lights are considered electronics and should be recycled as such. Christmas lights contain valuable material like copper wire, plastic, glass, and bulbs that require special handling. They also often contain hazardous materials such as mercury and lead, which need to be managed carefully. When you recycle your old lights, you’re helping reduce waste and giving those materials a chance to become something new and useful. Recycling also prevents old lights from taking up space in landfills, where discarded Christmas lights can remain for hundreds of years, contributing to long-term environmental waste. Broken lights should also be recycled, not thrown away. It’s a small step that makes a big difference for our environment, and recycling facilities are equipped to handle these materials properly.
How Our Recycling Program Works
Recycling your old Christmas lights through our program couldn’t be easier. Here’s all you need to do: Plus, as a thank-you for recycling, our Christmas Light Recycling Program offers a 10% off coupon for new purchases when you send in old lights.
- Gather your old lights – We accept all types of Christmas lights, including string lights, holiday LEDs, energy efficient LEDs, and traditional bulbs. You can include broken bulbs and old ones for recycling.
- Pack them up – Use the smallest box possible to help minimize shipping costs when you ship your lights.
- Include a note – Just write a quick note letting us know you’d like the lights recycled.
- Send them our way – Mail your lights to our recycling program address.
If you have an extra set of lights you no longer need, feel free to send those in as well! Alternatively, local thrift stores should accept working Christmas lights for donation, giving them a second life and helping others celebrate the holidays.
Send your lights to:
The Christmas Light Emporium
Recycling Program
1026 Shady Oaks Drive, Suite 103
Denton, Texas 76205
That’s it! We’ll take care of the rest, working with our recycling partners to ensure your old lights are properly processed and their materials are given new life. If you are replacing your old lights with new ones, be sure to recycle the old ones through our holiday light recycling service. If your Christmas lights are still functional, consider giving them to family or friends who might need them.
Local Drop-Off Option for DFW Area
If you’re in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you have another convenient option! United Recycling is a recycling center serving the local city and surrounding area. You can bring your old Christmas lights direct to United Recycling in Coppell, Texas. This is the same trusted partner we work with for our mail-in program.
United Recycling Location:
505 Airline Drive
Coppell, Texas 75019
Workers at the recycling center appreciate when lights are untangled, as tangled cords can cause problems during processing. Some local businesses may also participate in Christmas light recycling programs, providing additional drop-off options in the city.
United Recycling specializes in electronic waste recycling and has extensive experience with Christmas light recycling. You can learn more about their specific Christmas light recycling program at: https://unitedelectronicrecycling.com/christmas-lights-recycling/
Find Local Recycling Options
Don’t live near Texas? No problem! Many communities have local recycling centers that accept Christmas lights. Here are some tips for finding recycling options in your area: Additionally, stores like Lowe's and Home Depot accept broken Christmas lights for recycling during the holiday season, making it even easier to recycle responsibly. Each year, Americans throw away over 20 million pounds of holiday lights, contributing significantly to environmental waste. By recycling, you can help reduce this impact.
- Search online for “Christmas light recycling near me” or “electronic waste recycling”
- Contact your local waste management company - they often know about specialized recycling programs
- Check with stores like Ace Hardware, thrift stores, and other hardware stores – some of these stores serve as convenient drop-off locations for old Christmas lights and may offer seasonal recycling drives
- Ask your municipality - many cities have electronic waste collection events throughout the year
What Happens to Recycled Christmas Lights?
When Christmas lights are properly recycled, they’re broken down into their component materials: The materials in Christmas lights, such as copper wire and PVC, are valuable but degrade slowly in landfills, making recycling an essential step in reducing waste.
- Copper wire is extracted and can be used in new electrical products
- Plastic components are processed and can become new plastic items
- Other metals are separated and recycled appropriately
Any non-recyclable parts of the lights are responsibly thrown away, not sent to regular garbage, to ensure environmentally responsible disposal.
Companies like Capitol Asset Recycling process recycled Christmas lights, turning them into new products and materials for construction, manufacturing, or electronics reclamation.
This process keeps these valuable materials in circulation instead of sitting in a landfill for decades.
Making a Difference Together
At The Christmas Light Emporium, we’re committed to helping you create beautiful holiday memories while being good stewards of our environment. Our recycling program is just one way we’re working to make the world a little brighter - both during the holidays and year-round.
Every string of lights you recycle makes a difference. By giving your old lights longer work through recycling or repurposing, you help reduce waste and extend their usefulness. Recycled lights can be transformed into new decorations for the next holiday season, adding a personal touch to your celebrations. They can also be used to help decorate trees in homes or communities, spreading festive cheer. Creative repurposing ideas for old Christmas lights include DIY ornaments and festive wreaths, allowing you to add a unique touch to your holiday decor. Whether you mail them to us or drop them off locally, you’re taking a positive step toward reducing waste and protecting our planet for future generations to enjoy. Additionally, you can donate working Christmas lights to local charities to help light up the community.
Questions About Our Recycling Program?
If you have questions about our Christmas light recycling program, don't hesitate to reach out! You can contact our customer service team at:
- Phone: 1-888-444-XMAS (9627), Monday-Friday 9am-5pm CST
- Email: support@thechristmaslightemporium.com
Together, we can keep the magic of Christmas lights shining while taking care of the world we all share. Thank you for choosing to recycle responsibly!
Ready to upgrade your holiday display? Visit The Christmas Light Emporium and browse our collection of energy-efficient LED Christmas lights that will last for many seasons to come. Every purchase is backed by our Reindeer Proof™ Warranty, ensuring your investment in holiday magic is protected.
