Monterrey Metal Recycling Solutions says it doesn’t matter how many lights you bring in – you’ll leave with something.
SAN ANTONIO — When the holidays are over and decorations come down, many people are left with tangled strands of Christmas lights and one big question: What should you do with them?
Before throwing them in the trash, local recycling experts say there’s a brighter option that helps the environment — and could put a little money back in your pocket.
Many people don’t realize burned-out or unwanted Christmas lights can be recycled for their copper wiring, according to Monterrey Metal Recycling Solutions. The company says it doesn’t matter how many lights you bring in — customers leave with something.
Jeff Vexler, vice president of Monterrey Metal Recycling Solutions says the copper inside Christmas lights is a valuable and highly sought-after metal that should stay in circulation instead of ending up in landfills.
“Remember when taking down your Christmas lights that they don’t belong in the blue bin,” Vexler said. “We would like for people to be thinking about preserving the earth. Solid waste and other MRF facilities don’t like it in their stream. It can get tangled in their machines.”
At the company’s facility, specialized machinery separates plastic coatings from the metal inside the wires. Utility and controls engineer Omar Rivera said the process allows materials to be reused efficiently.
“We have a machine that can process this material and separate the plastics from the metals inside these wires,” Rivera said.
The end result is a greener solution for the planet — and a financial incentive for residents looking to recycle responsibly.
“Bringing it to Monterrey Metal Recycling Solutions ensures that the copper inside those Christmas lights, as well as other household wires, stays out of the waste stream,” Vexler said.
For more information on recycling Christmas lights or to learn how much you can earn, contact Monterrey Metal Recycling Solutions at 210-927-2727.