St. Croix County reminds residents that holiday lights are recyclable

Based on recent television advertising, it appears that the holiday shopping season is already upon us.  Before long, many households will be taking out their decorations and preparing to set out lights.  St. Croix County Recycling asks residents the following: What do you do with an old string of lights if you find that it no longer works?

In past years, non-working holiday lights were almost always thrown away in the trash simply because there were no practical alternatives.  Fortunately, that is no longer the case.  In the past few years, a network of holiday light recyclers has been established by the Recycling Association of Minnesota throughout that state and into St. Croix County.  The lights are collected by vocational agencies that employ over 200 individuals with disabilities to properly the strands of light.

The following nine stores and agencies in St. Croix County and River Falls are sites where holiday lights are accepted for recycling.

• Baldwin: Gregerson’s Ace Hardware

• Hammond: St. Croix Electric Cooperative

• Hudson: The Purple Tree; Home Depot

• New Richmond: Farm & Home Ace Hardware; New Richmond Utilities

• River Falls: River Falls Ace Hardware; River Falls City Hall

• Somerset: BJ Hardware

For specific information on the dates these locations accept holiday lights, as well as their hours of operation and contact numbers, please visit the St. Croix County recycling website at: www.sccwi.us/recycling.  Click on the A to Z Disposal and Recycling link, and then on the Holiday Materials link.  Here you will also find information on Christmas trees, wrapping paper and greeting cards.