String Lights: Copper Inside
Old incandescent string lights contain copper wire — a valuable metal worth recovering. They're not accepted in curbside bins (the tangled wire wraps around sorting machinery, same as cables). Instead, drop them off at:
• Holiday light recycling programs (many home improvement stores run these January–February) • E-waste recyclers (they strip copper from cables) • Scrap metal dealers (small amounts OK; larger quantities pay more)
LED Lights
LED strings are more complex than incandescent — they contain circuit boards with small amounts of lead solder and other materials. Treat them as e-waste: drop off at certified e-waste facilities or retailer take-back programs (Best Buy accepts holiday lights).
Other Decorations
<strong>Cardboard boxes and tissue paper</strong>: Recycle normally. <strong>Styrofoam packaging inserts</strong>: Check EPS drop-off programs. <strong>Wrapping paper</strong>: Recyclable if not metallic, glittery, or laminated. Test: if it holds a crumple, it's paper; if it springs back, it's plastic. <strong>Ribbon and bows</strong>: Usually plastic — trash or reuse. <strong>Artificial trees</strong>: Non-recyclable plastic composite; donate if in good condition. <strong>Real trees</strong>: Many municipalities offer post-holiday chipping programs that turn trees into mulch.
Batteries from Decorations
Remove batteries from light-up decorations, ornaments, and other electronic decorations before disposing of them. Batteries need separate recycling (rechargeable batteries at Call2Recycle, alkalines at retail drop-offs). The decoration itself then goes to the appropriate stream.