Updated November 12th, 2024
Recycle Holiday Lights at Five Rivers MetroParks
Five Rivers MetroParks and Cohen Recycling are making the holidays greener by proving bins at 10 MetroParks locations where the public can drop off string lights to be recycled now through Feb. 1, 2025. To ensure ease of drop off and that bins are located equitably throughout Montgomery County, MetroParks has added drop-off bins to additional parks this year, including Englewood, Germantown and Eastwood MetroParks.
Recycling lights supports MetroParks’ conservation mission, and Cohen will make a donation to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation equal to the market value of the recycled lights collected.
Drop off unwanted lights at any of the following MetroParks locations during park hours, which are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily:
- Carriage Hill MetroPark, 7800 E. Shull Rd.: Recycling bin located outside the Visitor Center entrance
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 6733 Springboro Pike: Recycling bin located outside the Visitor Center entrance
- Eastwood MetroPark (lake side), 1401 Harshman Rd.: Recycling bin located at the kiosk near the docks
- Englewood MetroPark, 4361 W. National Rd.: Recycling bin located near entrance
- Germantown MetroPark, 6910 Boomershine Rd.: Recycling bin located at the Twin Valley Welcome Center by kiosk next to sidewalk
- Possum Creek MetroPark, 4790 Frytown Rd.: Recycling bin located at the education building near Possum Creek Farm
- Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd.: Recycling bin located at the main parking lot entrance under the kiosk
- Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave.: Recycling bin located at the front of the main building
- Adventure Central at Wesleyan MetroPark, 2222 N James H McGee Blvd.: Recycling bin located at Adventure Central building.
- 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St.: Recycling bin is located at the northwest entrance by the bike parking and is accessible anytime.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of household garbage in the US increases 25% between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, resulting in 5 million tons of waste that is sent to the landfill.
“Recycling holiday lights is a win-win for people and the planet,” said MetroParks Sustainability Manager Kelly Bohrer. “Recycling lights reduces landfill waste, keeps the lights from entangling wildlife and prevents adding toxins to our soil and water. It also allows us to reuse valuable materials (copper) and supports the circular economy.”
Over the last four years, MetroParks has collected 26,165 pounds of lights at its facilities. Additionally, Cohen has donated a total of $8,589 to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation to support MetroParks’ mission to protect the region’s natural heritage.
