Can You Recycle Christmas Lights?
No
Not curbside — e-waste or holiday drop-offs
Why
Light strings are tanglers that jam sorting equipment, but the copper inside makes them valuable to e-waste and scrap recyclers.
How to dispose of christmas lights
- Take dead strings to an e-waste drop-off or scrap metal recycler
- Many hardware stores run holiday-season take-back bins
- Some mail-in programs offer coupons toward LED replacements
Greener option
Upgrade to LED strings — they last years longer and use 80% less power.
♻️ Recycling rules vary by city and hauler — when in doubt, check your local program. You can look up your area on our trash & recycling schedules page.