metro wire staff
Portage County’s Solid Waste Department has launched the Holiday Lights Recycling Program for the 2022-23 season.
Light stands should not be recycled on the side of the road, according to Solid Waste Manager Amanda Huffel.
“They wrap around sorters, causing inefficient sorting and costly shutdowns to remove lights from sorters,” said Huffle, who oversees the Portage County Material Recovery Facility. “By wrapping around compressor tires, it can cause problems even in landfills.”
To address this issue, the department hosts an annual Holiday Lights Program. It is now open and will remain open until the end of January 2023.
The set of holiday lights can be dropped off at any of the following locations:
- Portage County MRF, 600 Moore Rd., Plover
- Stevens Point public drop off point, 100 Sixth Ave.
- Recycling Connections, 1100 Main St. Suite 120, Stevens Point. Hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday.
- Village of Plover on the corner of Post Rd, Veterans Memorial Park parking lot. and School Dr. The location is different from last year.
- Amherst Village Village Hall
- Village of Whiting Village Hall
- Town of Amherst City Hall
- Hull Town Hall
- Town of Pine Grove City Hall
Lighted figures, rope lights, extension cords, bags and trash will not be accepted. Lights must be bagged before being discarded into a container.
If contamination becomes a problem at any of these locations, Haffele said the affected locations could suspend the program early.
