Solid Waste Management Department

Holiday Lights

Do not place holiday lights (tanglers) in your curbside recycling. Tanglers, including holiday lights and power cords, cannot be recycled in your home recycling cart and will cause problems and shutdowns at the local recycling facility. These cords can tangle in the rotating machinery at the recycling plant, which could break the equipment. Not to mention endanger the people working.

Where to Recycle Christmas Lights

For proper disposal and recycling of holiday lights check with local retailers like Home Depot for take-back recycling programs. Other locations accepting holiday lights are City of Houston Recycling Centers and City of Houston Zoo. Strands of holiday lights can be recycled with scrap metal, even with bulbs attached. Scrap metal companies may offer a small rebate for your used holiday lights.

DONATE

Donate To help protect wildlife, the Houston Zoo has placed a holiday lights recycling bin outside of the main entrance gate of the Zoo. Only string lights will be accepted for recycling; please do not bring other items such as floodlights, extension cords, or light hooks.

Drop-off locations

• North - 9003 N Main 77022
• Northwest - 14400 Sommermeyer 77041
• Northeast - 5565 Kirkpatrick 77028
• Southeast - 2240 Central Street 77017
• South - 5100 Sunbeam 77033
• Southwest - 10785 SW Freeway 77074

• Westpark Center

• ESC - SOUTH, 11500 S. Post Oak Rd.
• ESC - NORTH, 5614 Neches St.

Additionally, earth911.com it provides additional list of drop-off locations near your home.