Do you have broken or non-working holiday lights and extension cords? Don’t throw them away! Recycle them through the Cleveland Zoo’s Lights for Lions project. You will help protect lions and cheetahs in Tanzania – and you’ll help care for other parts of God’s creation by keeping valuable resources out of the landfill!
Broken, non-working strings of lights and extension cords (without packaging) can be dropped off at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for recycling November 1 through February 15. Proceeds from recycling support the Zoo’s lion and cheetah conservation program partner Lion Landscapes.
The Brecksville UMC Green Team wants to help make it easy! Drop off your broken lights three ways…
- At the main entrance of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way (you don’t need a Zoo ticket to drop them off)
- Year-round at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, 4750 East 131 Street in Garfield Heights
- Bring your lights to church on Sundays, November 23 – through December 21 and the BUMC Green Team will drop them off for you!
Start a collection with your friends and family!
Have an empty box or bag? Ask your friends to help fill it with broken string lights! Bring your box of lights to church and we’ll take them to the Zoo for you. Look at you being a creation care champion! You make it look so easy! (Here’s a flyer to tape to your box.)
Want to help our community care for God’s creation? Our next Green Team meeting is online Tuesday, Nov 18 at 7 pm. Email Melanie@Brecksvilleumc.com for info!
Why recycle string lights and extension cords?
Recycling broken string lights is important because they contain valuable and potentially hazardous materials like copper, plastic, glass, and lead that should not end up in landfills. Recycling allows these materials to be recovered and reused, preventing contamination and conserving natural resources. Improperly discarding lights can also cause major problems at municipal recycling facilities because their wires and cords get tangled in machinery.
Environmental benefits
- Prevents landfill contamination: Lights can contain hazardous components like lead and mercury that can leach into soil and water if they are thrown in the trash.
- Conserves natural resources: Recycling recovers valuable metals like copper and other materials that can be reused to make new products, reducing the need to extract new raw materials.
- Reduces waste: A significant amount of holiday waste is generated from discarded lights, and recycling helps divert them from landfills.
Recycling string lights is a practical way we can show care for God’s creation!