Program keeps strongs of lights out of landfills

By Edie Schmierbach

MANKATO — Sorting through our holiday decorations, we start to look like Scrooge’s overburdened partner, Marley. That old ghost was wrapped in chains forged while he hoarded coins; we become entangled in non-working strings of lights from Christmases past.

Those broken bulbs and frayed ropes of coated wire pile up when we aren’t sure how to dispose of them. Now there’s an option for area residents — drop-off bins for unwanted light strings.

Recycling Association of Minnesota developed this bright idea to keep the bulky decorations out of landfills. The nonprofit organization and Minnesota affiliate of the National Recycling Coalition’s first program was for the Hutchinson area. Recently RAM began a similar cooperative effort with MRCI WorkSource.

Now is the season when old holiday lights are being replaced with LEDs, which are gaining popularity with decorators concerned about conserving energy.

“This is a perfect time to promote a program like this,” RAM Executive Director Ellen Telander said.

Green tote bins, labeled Recycle Your Holidays, are being distributed to businesses and collections later this month. Recycling boxes will be on site at the Holiday by the River celebration in North Mankato Nov. 27.

Those groups or businesses interested in having collection bins on site may call MRCI recycling coordinator Tammi Leiferman at 386-5799.

All types of light strings are accepted — not just Christmas — as well as old extension cords and electrical cords cut from lamps and appliances. Strings do not have to be bundled before they are dropped in the bins.

Gloved employees at MRCI’s Highland worksite in Mankato have been trained to pull bulbs from the strings and prepare the remaining materials for recycling.

The glass is sent to be crushed at Green Lights Recycling in Blaine. Debulbed wires are sent to Kirschbaum-Krupp Metal in Minneapolis, which will strip the plastic off the wire. The remaining copper is purchased by the recycling company.

About 50 percent of a light string is copper and the price paid depends on the strands, Telander said.

“We will get a portion of the proceeds, per pound,” Leiferman said. These funds will help pay 22 MRCI clients’ hourly wages.

Telander is happy to keep defunct decorations out of landfills.

“It’s not a money-maker (for RAM). It’s a break-even opportunity,” Telander said. “It basically pays for the recycling.”

RAM kicked off this year’s campaign this summer, urging members to look for holiday lights in rummage sale boxes.

“We have set a collection goal of 50,000 pounds,” Telander said.



LED lights save energy, inspire rebates
According to Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, LED lights last up to 50,000 hours outdoors and can save up to $21 per month. These bulbs have no filament, so they stay cool to the touch.

BENCO Electric has a bounty out on incandescent holiday lights, according to energy specialist John Hutchens.

The local cooperative is offering rebates up to $30 to members who bring in old light strings and replace them with LEDS.

Members receive $3 credit when they bring in an unwanted string of lights, along with a receipt for a new 50-count LED set.

Brown County REA is offering the same rebate program.

Customers of SMMPA member utilities can trim their electrical bills by purchasing LED lights. Rebates of up to $12 are offered to customers submitting the “holiday lighting rebate” coupon, along with original receipt for LED strings or LED decorations and the part of the package showing the number of lamps per string or decoration.