Recycle Your Holiday in Mankato Area

It’s that time of year again, when masses of tangled light strings are discovered in boxes of holiday decorations. If they are tangled to the point of no return, there is a way to recycle them, rather than toss them in the trash.

Unwanted and non-working light strings and old extension cords are now recyclable in Greater Mankato, just in time for the holidays. The “Recycle Your Holidays” program is sponsored by the same group that brought away-from-home recycling, Message in a Bottle, to area convenience stores and car washes in Mankato.

Bins with the familiar “Recycle More in Greater Mankato” logo will be placed at businesses, churches and schools. MRCI WorkSource staff and clients will collect the strings, remove the light bulbs, and recycle all.

‘This is a great opportunity for clients to have paying jobs, to participate in the community and give something back to the community,” according to Linda Leiding, MRCI WorkSource Senior Vice President of Programs.

“In addition, this is a great, new way to preserve resources through recycling, rather than wasting resources,” says Blue Earth County Recycling Coordinator Jean Lundquist. “It’s also an opportunity for people to purchase energy-efficient light strings to replace the old ones.”

Recycle Your Holidays is a program by the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM). “It’s the second program of its kind in the nation,” according to RAM Executive Director Ellen Telander. “The first program is located in Hutchinson, Minnesota and we were amazed at how many strings of lights we kept out of the landfill. We expect even more lights collected in Mankato.”

Any business interested in having a bin to collect light strings and extension cords can call Tammi or Jackie at MRCI WorkSource at 386-5799. Bins will be distributed, and collections will start in November. Also, look for the boxes at Holiday by the River on November 27th.

Sponsors include: MRCI WorkSource, Pepsi Mankato, Blue Earth County, Radio Mankato, Recycling Association of MN, LJP Waste and Recycle, with special support from participating Touchstone locations, including Benco in Mankato.
(from RAM website)