Dubois County Recycles Thousands of Christmas Lights, Program Returns
The Dubois County Solid Waste District has reopened its holiday light recycling program, accepting electric strands from November 21 through January 16 at two drop off locations. The effort keeps metal wiring out of the landfill, builds on last season when residents recycled more than 1,400 pounds, and continues a multi year recovery program that has recycled 9,355 pounds to date.
The Dubois County Solid Waste District is asking residents to bring old strands of electric Christmas lights to local drop off sites as its seasonal recycling program continues through Friday, January 16. The program accepts only strands of electric lights, not rigid frames or yard shapes, because the cords contain metal wire that can be recovered and recycled.
Last season Dubois County residents recycled more than 1,400 pounds of old lights. The district highlighted that this year marks the seventh season of the program, which has collected a total of 9,355 pounds since inception. The initiative operates through a partnership with Jasper Salvage and Jasper Rural King to provide convenient local collection points.
“We provide decorated cardboard barrels just inside the Rural King entrance, and we ask that residents just dump their strands of lights in the barrel without packaging,” says Solid Waste District Director Carla Striegel-Winner. “This is our seventh season, with a total of 9,355 pounds of strands being recycled. Keep up the good recycling work, Dubois County!”
Residents may drop off strands at the Dubois County Solid Waste District Process Center, located at 1103 S. 350 W., Jasper, during regular hours from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The other collection point is the Jasper Rural King at 1920 Lube Way, where decorated cardboard barrels are placed just inside the store entrance for easy deposit.
The program reduces the volume of lightweight but hard to decompose materials entering local waste streams, and it recovers metal that can be reused rather than lost to landfills. Providing free and local drop off options helps ensure broader access to recycling for households that do not have curbside programs or who need a convenient place to dispose of seasonal items responsibly.
For more information residents may call 812 482 7865, email swmd@duboiscountyin.org, or check the Dubois County Solid Waste District Facebook page. The district encourages neighbors to bring in their old strands and keep recyclable materials in circulation this holiday season.
