Consider the post-Christmas impact of unwanted tree lights

There have been years when we’ve taken the Christmas tree to be recycled — chipped into mulch — or put it on the street for curbside recycling, and I’ve noticed a number of other trees around the neighborhood had been discarded but were still wrapped in lights. Either the strings had stopped working, or because they were cheap to replace, the decorator simply hadn’t bothered to remove them before discarding the tree. After all, more lights could be purchased the next year. To be honest, in the beginning, I was more bothered by the waste than anything else, but I never really stopped to consider how much trouble those tossed-away lights could be. Left on a tree they can tangle in equipment or cause injury to animals before the trees are picked up. It made me think how much plastic, wires and other materials go into making strands of holiday lights. Compound that by a city full of people who would rather throw away than re-use, and you get quite a pile of trash. When LED lights came along they were more expensive so those who switched to the more energy-efficient lights seeemed less likely to leave them on the tree. And since LED lights last much longer than traditional strands, it means people aren’t buying new lights each year and simply discarding them. So, that’s another check in the plus column for LED lights. For the last several years stores like Home Depot, Target and others have begun to offer buyers a chance to trade in old lights and upgrade. Some offer a discount on LED lights if you bring in lights to recycle. Then, the old strands are disassembled and components are recycled and anything that is not recyclable is disposed of safely. The post-holiday letdown is common. We’re all decorated out. If you’re still using older lights and you’re thinking of putting your tree out for curbside recycling lights and all, think again. And, if you’re still on the fence, this might be a good year to move to a more energy—and cost—efficient way to decorate. End one year and start another with a greener tree.