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The Village of Algonquin, IL

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Holiday Lights Recycling

Since inception, the holiday lights recycling program has diverted over 100,000 lbs. of lights from landfills across more than 20 communities.

The Village of Algonquin offers a Holiday Lights Recycling Program for residents, in partnership with Elgin Recycling. This program provides a convenient way to recycle unwanted holiday lights, helping reduce waste and minimize environmental impact during the holiday season.

Holiday Lights Recycling Instructions

Unwanted holiday lights can be dropped off at the collection site located inside the Ganek Municipal Center, 2200 Harnish Drive, Algonquin, IL 60102. The program is offered annually and typically runs from late November or early December through early to mid-January for resident convenience.

The program accepts all styles and colors of string lights, including traditional incandescent and LED holiday lights. Please remove any plastic packaging, bags, or decorations before drop-off. Items such as garland, tinsel, pre-lit trees, and lighted lawn decorations are not accepted. All lights should be clean and free of any excessive dirt or debris to ensure proper recycling.

Materials Accepted at Recycling Location

The following items are accepted in the Holiday Lights Recycling Program:

Accepted Items Unaccepted Items
C7 Lights: Traditional holiday lights commonly used in outdoor displays. Household Light Bulbs: Standard light bulbs used in household lamps and fixtures.
C9 Lights: Larger holiday lights often used for roofline or large tree decoration. Floodlights: High-powered lights used for exterior illumination, not suitable for recycling in this program.
Rope Lights: Flexible string lights encased in plastic tubing, commonly used for accent lighting. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs): Energy-efficient bulbs not accepted due to hazardous materials.
LED Lights: Energy-efficient holiday lights available in various colors and sizes. Fluorescent Bulbs: Large, tubular bulbs not accepted due to recycling restrictions.
Extension Cords of any length: Cords used to power electrical devices; must be free of any attachments.

Note: Pre-lit decorations, artificial trees, and tinsel are not accepted and should not be mixed with holiday light strands. Please remove all packaging and non-recyclable materials before drop-off.