You Should Never Do This With Your Christmas Lights In New York

During the holiday season, it's fun to drive around and look at holiday lights. With bright, different colors and festive lawn displays, New York state residents always do a great job of decorating.

When holiday lights break or after having them for many years, we may wonder how we should properly dispose of them.

A New York agency has provided the area that there are proper recycling guidelines that we can follow this holiday season.

How Can The UCRRA Help New York Residents?

The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency is known as UCRRA. They have solid waste facilities within Ulster County, NY and have been serving the community for more than 30 years.

The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency explained that they have,

"been developing and implementing sustainable waste management programs for Ulster County. "

 

"UCRRA is a solid waste authority, public benefit corporation, and permitted solid waste facility with commercial Transfer Stations in Kingston and New Paltz, NY."

The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency's main office, transfer station and mrf & compost facility is located in Kingston, NY.  The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency has an additional location in New Paltz, NY which is their second transfer station.

SEE MORE: 7 Places To Get Dessert For The Holiday Season In The Hudson Valley

UCRRA Shares Important Recycling Guidelines For 2024 Holiday Season

The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency shared helpful information about recycling items during the holiday.

They asked residents to,

"Remember to double check your local recycling guidelines before placing packaging in your recycling bin!"

The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency shared that not all of the packaging is able to be properly recycled. They shared a picture of paper mailers, wrapping paper and cardboard boxes are festive items that are able to get recycled.

Holiday items such as bubble mailers, styrofoam and bows are items that are not able to properly get recycled. Additional information about holiday recycling guidelines can be found with the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency's website.

Along with holiday wrapping and packaging, New York residents should also know what to do with their old or broken holiday lights.

You Should Never Do This WIth Your Christmas Lights In New York

The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency shared helpful information about the string lights we love to put up during the holiday season.

They shared that residents should not recycle string lights and explained,

"When lights enter the recycling stream they can become tangled around recycling equipment causing expensive machinery breakdowns and putting our team in danger!"

The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency suggests contacting Lowe's about their lights take-back program or replacing the old bulbs with new.

I didn't realize that string lights were referred to as tanglers. Now we know not to put these kinds of lights into our garbage and are aware of the steps to properly dispose of them. The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency shares additional information about holiday lights and more on their social media and website.

What do you usually do with your holiday lights? Do you have pictures you want to share with us? Tell us more below.

Here's a list of additional items that you didn't know you could recycle within the Hudson Valley.