Christmas Lights Alternative ways to recycle Do Not Put In Recycling Special Management Instructions Broken holiday lights should never be placed in the recycling bin because they cause major problems for recycling facilities by becoming tangled in the sorting machinery. Instead, repair broken light strands if possible, or contact local home-improvement stores or scrap metal collection sites to see if they accept them for recycling. Some communities across the State accept holiday lights with other electronic items for recycling, but contact your municipality first to see if they are accepted or not. As a last resort, dispose of broken holiday lights in the trash. Don't Throw Away Christmas Lights Never throw Christmas lights in the garbage or your curbside recycling: the lightbulb glass breaks easily and the cord gets wrapped around processing machinery. Alternative Ways to Recycle Online Trade-In Programs The online store Holiday LEDs will give you a 15 percent off coupon for mailing in your old lights to be recycled. Christmas Light Source will give you 10 percent off a purchase of new lights for mailing yours in, and donate recycling proceeds to the Dallas/Fort Worth Toys for Tots Foundation. Ways to Reduce Switch to LED LED Christmas lights use 80 percent less energy and can last up to 20 years. If you want to be able to replace individual lights, make sure to choose strings with removable bulbs. Did You Know? How to Repair Broken Christmas Lights