Carmel Clay Schools’ Green Teams, City of Carmel Utilities, City of Carmel, Tech Recyclers and White’s Ace Hardware are working together to make it a green holiday season by offering a Holiday Lights Recycling Drive.
Beginning Monday, Nov. 21 and running until Jan. 20, 2023, residents can recycle used and unwanted holiday lights at White’s Ace Hardware at 731 S. Range Line Road.
Since the start of the collaborative program, more than eight tons of lights have been recycled. Recycling inoperable or inefficient lights keeps those items out of landfills, which reduces the long-term carbon impact on the environment.
Carmel Utilities recommends considering using EnergyStar-rated LED lights, or light-emitting diodes, which reduces energy usage by 75 percent compared to conventional lights. Not only will you save in energy costs and lower your carbon footprint, LED lights also have the following advantages:
- Safer: LEDs are much cooler than incandescent lights, reducing the risk of combustion or burnt fingers.
- Sturdier: LEDs are made with epoxy lenses and are much more resistant to breakage.
- Longer Lasting: LEDs last 25 times longer than conventional lights.
For more information about the Holiday Lights Recycling Drive, please call Kelli Prader at the City of Carmel Utilities Department at (317) 571-2673.