The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency, in partnership with the City of Dubuque Public Works Department, the Carnegie Stout Public Library, and the Dubuque County Library – Asbury Branch offered collection locations to recycle unwanted holiday lights. This program ran from November 15, 2022 – January 14, 2023 and diverted 4,115 pounds of lights for recycling that would have otherwise been landfilled. This amount was a 28.39% increase from the previous year. This was the fourth year for the expanded collection program, which has diverted more than 12,200 pounds of lights since the first year. In environmental terms, according to stopwaste.org, this is the equivalent of removing the emissions from 107.44 vehicles.
Unwanted holiday lights and all electronics can be recycled year-round at the Regional Collection Center located at the DMASWA Landfill. Appointments are required for electronics and lights brought to the landfill. To schedule an appointment visit DMASWA.org.
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