Holiday Light Recycling
Posted 1/8/2010 12:53:00 PM

I love my super-bright new strings of energy-saving new LED holiday lights, but now I have all these strings of regular-bulb lights – including the ones that are burned out. What’s the Green Thing to do with my old bulbs?

Dionne – St. Ann

Dear Dionne:

Be sure to compare your electric bill from this time last year when your December bill comes in – you’ll get a New Year’s gift for sure! St. Louis Green’s new light-string recycling program is one of the hits of the season – extended through January 15 at the Kirkwood Recycling Depository – has recycled over 2.65 tons of old lights as of Winter Solstice – now that’s a bright idea!

What happens to the lights St. Louisans are recycling? St. Louis Green has partnered with a specialty recycling company with equipment to shred the strings and separately recover the copper and plastic, materials that will ultimately be melted to make new products.

Here are a few Green facts about energy-smart holiday lighting:

  • LEDs consume 75 percent less energy than conventional incandescent light strands and last 10 times longer. They are also cool to the touch, reducing the risk of fire.
  • If all decorative light strings sold in America this year were ENERGY STAR qualified LEDs, we would save more than 2 billion kWh per year and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to nearly 300,000 cars.
  • A 500-foot string of traditional mini-incandescent lights would cost $140.67 for 40 days of use (six hours day), compared with just $10.55 for LED minis (national average energy costs).
  • Rope lights, fiber optic lighting, and candelabra compact fluorescent lights are also energy-efficient choices.

Green Jean

Posted By: Jean Ponzi  
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About Green Jean Ponzi

Green Jean PonziAs the Green Resources Manager for EarthWays Center, a division of Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Jean Ponzi digs into the (well-composted) dirt on All Things Green to answer email and phone inquiries from the general public, businesses. You can find the most-asked questions from these interactions each week here on ecolifeSTL.com.

Jean's work for EarthWays Center also includes promoting Green Homebuilding and home improvement. She serves the bi-state region as a Residential Green Building Advocate, associated with the U.S. Green Building Council – St. Louis Regional Chapter and the St. Louis Homebuilders Association.

Jean has been in the environmental communications business for over twenty years. Her expertise includes recycling and waste reduction, composting, air quality, native plant landscaping, and energy efficiency. She has produced and hosted the environmental talk show, "Earthworms", on FM-88 KDHX since 1989. Her column "Earthworms' Castings" is a regular feature in The Healthy Planet magazine, and she has written for Home Energy, Grist and Missouri Resources magazines. As a trusted environmental resource for local and regional media outlets, you'll often see or hear Jean when EarthWays Center is in the news.

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