Give Old Holiday Lights New Life Through Recycling!
Do you have old or broken lights taking up space in storage? We can help! Starting now through January 31, 2027, the Zoo is collecting unwanted holiday lights for recycling as part of our ongoing conservation and sustainability efforts.
Whether they’re tangled, broken, or simply no longer needed, your old lights can be put to better use instead of ending up in a landfill. It’s an easy way to reduce waste and make a positive impact on the environment.
Drop-Off Details
Bring your own holiday lights to the Zoo’s Main Gate entrance booths during Zoo hours.
- What can you recycle? Traditional string lights, LED lights, tangled strands, and extension cords, we’ll take them all.
- What condition do they need to be in? We’ll accept lights whether they’re working or broken. No need to untangle them beforehand!
- Where can you drop them off? Simply hand your lights to a ticketing agent at the Main Gate entrance booths.
- Do you need Zoo admission? No! You can drop off your lights without purchasing an admission ticket.
That’s it! A small effort can help keep unwanted materials out of landfills and give valuable resources a second life.
Why Does Recycling Holiday Lights Matter?
Recycling old holiday lights does more than reduce waste. It also helps conserve valuable natural resources and protect wildlife habitats.
Many holiday lights contain copper, a valuable material that can be recovered and reused through recycling. By reclaiming materials from old lights, we can help reduce the demand for newly mined materials. Mining activities can disturb natural habitats and impact wildlife, including species like chimpanzees, okapi, and chinchillas.
Read More on Electronic Recycling
By bringing old holiday lights to the Zoo for recycling, you’re helping keep unnecessary waste out of landfills while supporting a more sustainable approach to using the Earth’s resources. Every small action adds up, and together, we can make a difference for wildlife and the planet.
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