Program will recycle Christmas lights

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MRCI has teamed up with the Recycling Association of Minnesota to recycle old strings of holiday lights and electrical cords. Rosemount residents can bring old strands and other electrical cords to cooperating businesses and drop off the strands from now through January.

This is the first year MRCI has participated in the program. The program serves the company, which provides work opportunities to people with disabilities, in two ways. It provides jobs for MRCI clients and it is in line with the company’s goal to become more Earth friendly, said Julie Beckman, MRCI program manager.

Boxes have been placed in a number of businesses throughout Rosemount, Eagan and Hastings. In Rosemount there are boxes located at Eddie Cheng, Fluegel’s Farm, Garden and Pet, Ace Hardware, Shenanigan’s Pub, First State Bank of Rosemount, Shenanigan’s Liquor Store, The Pond, USA Nails, Rosemount Liquor and Wine Cellar, Rosemount National Bank and Vermillion State Bank.

Through the collection months, six MRCI clients will collect strands from the boxes. In January 30 clients will join in the effort and help disassemble the lights and get them ready to be recycled.

Beckman said the program will be a good opportunity for clients because it’s a simple and repetitive task. To disassemble the lights Beckman said clients remove the lights and take off the ends.

After disassembly the lights and strands will be sent to the Recycling Association of Minnesota. RAM recycles every part of the holiday lights through the help of partners including Green Lights Recycling.

This is the first year the organization will work with MRCI. RAM has worked with other organizations in the past and found the effort successful.

“Last year we were amazed at how many strings of lights we kept out of the landfill. We expect even more lights collected in 2009,” said Ellen Telander, executive director of RAM.

Dakota Electric has also gotten on board. The company has placed coupons with each box that will help buy new energy efficient lights.

For more information call Julie Beckman at 651-423-8900.

Tags: christmas lights, news, recycling