With Thanksgiving over and the weather becoming colder, many people are excitedly pulling out the Christmas décor to prepare for the holiday season. AIM Ecycling, Genoa Bank and Nature’s Nursery have teamed up to offer options for old and broken Christmas lights.
For its fourth year, AIM of Toledo has an ecofriendly option for getting rid of old Christmas lights. Now through January 12, individuals can drop off their old, broken Christmas lights at most Genoa Bank branch locations during lobby business hours and at Nature’s Nursery in Waterville.
“Christmas lights are just one of those things that people often overlook as being recyclable, but it’s really important to utilize this option,” said Brian Simmons from AIM Ecycling. “Christmas lights are made from several nonbiodegradable components, mostly plastic, glass and copper. They take decades, if not hundreds of years, to break down if sent to a landfill.”
Christmas light bulbs can also contain toxic metals such as mercury that can be released into the environment when the bulbs are broken. With Christmas lights often only lasting a few seasons, the waste generated by any given household adds up quickly. Over the last two years, 8,146 pounds—over four tons—of lights have been collected and recycled with this initiative.
In addition to helping the environment by recycling lights, AIM has committed to making a donation to Nature’s Nursery Center For Wildlife Rescue of up to 20 cents per pound collected to assist in their efforts toward environmental and habitat sustainability.
Lights can be dropped off in the lobby of the Genoa Bank branch locations listed below, or in the light dropbox in front of Nature’s Nursery, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Participating Genoa Bank Branches:
•Perrysburg/Rossford: 9920 Olde U.S. 20, Rossford
•Sylvania: 5501 Monroe Street
•Maumee: 703 Conant Street
•Oregon: 3201 Navarre Avenue
•Millbury: 24950 West State Route 51.
•Fremont: 1701 W. State Street.
