Subway wire staff
The Portage County Solid Waste Department has opened its holiday lights recycling program for the 2022-23 season.
Light stands should not be recycled curbside, according to solid waste director Amanda Haffele.
“They wrap around sorting equipment and cause inefficient sorting and costly shutdowns to remove lights from sorting equipment,” said Haffele, who oversees the Portage County Materials Recovery Facility. . “They can even cause problems in landfills by wrapping themselves around compactor tires.”
To help combat the problem, the department runs its annual Christmas lights program. It is now open and running until the end of January 2023.
Strands of holiday lights can be dropped off at any of the following locations:
- Portage County MRF, 600 Moore Road, Plover
- City of Stevens Point Public Depot, 100 Sixth Ave.
- Recycling Connections, 1100 Main St. Suite 120, Stevens Point. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Village of Plover, Veterans Memorial Park parking lot at the corner of Post Rd. and School Dr. This is a different location from last year.
- Village Hall of Amherst
- Whiting Village Town Hall
- Town of Amherst City Hall
- Municipal building of the city of Hull
- Town of Pine Grove Municipal Building
Only strands of lights will be accepted, no light figures, light strings, extension cords, bags or waste. The lamps must be bagged before being thrown into the receptacles.
If contamination becomes a problem at any of those locations, the affected location may suspend the program early, Haffele said.