Watch CBS News

Recycle, Don't Trash, Those Old Holiday Lights

SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) -- When you turn on your tree, and the family sighed, because there's a light that won't light on one side, don't throw old lights away, that's wasteful, you see -- recycle them instead with the RSOC.

With apologies to Dr. Seuss, and with a slight twist as to the sponsoring organization's actual lengthy acronym, that's what's happening this holiday season -- thanks to Vintage Tech Recyclers of Canton Township and the (deep breath) Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County.

Residents from throughout the Detroit area are encouraged to drop off their old, non-working Christmas lights so they can be recycled responsibly instead of merely landfilled.

Drop-offs of old lights are free of charge at the Southfield RRRASOC recycling center, 20000 W. Eight Mile Road, and at the Wixom Public Works center, 2057 Charms Road in Wixom.

In addition to holiday lights, RRRASOC and Vintage Tech Recyclers encourage area residents to recycle old electronics including computers, tablets, laptops, game counsels, VCRs, DVD players, televisions and much more this holiday season. Recycling of these electronic items is free at Vintage Tech's Canton Township recycling center. All recycling processes are certified to e-Stewards and R2 certifications, the two highest compliance standards in the electronics recycling industry.

For more information on holiday lights recycling and other electronics recycling, visit this link or call (630) 305-9022.

Items accepted include computers, laptops, monitors, LCDs, cell phones, printers, scanners, modems, CD drives, cables, keyboards, mice, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, camcorders, cameras, game players, joysticks, telephones, pagers, answering machines, typewriters, calculators, copiers, postage meters, adding machines, fax machines, vacuum cleaners, toaster ovens, and microwaves.

Items NOT accepted include incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs, alkaline batteries, household chemicals, paint, toys, books, and anything known to contain mercury.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.