Sunday, December 13, 2020 Recycle old and broken holiday lights at Campus Recreation
Campus Recreation's intra-departmental sustainability committee is providing holiday light recycling for students, staff, and faculty. Old, broken, and outdated strands of lights can be dropped in collection boxes at the Campus Rec Center and Outdoor Adventures Center on city campus and the Rec & Wellness Center on east campus until Jan. 6, 2021.
All light strands collected at the Campus Rec locations will be divided between two local organizations - Eastridge Elementary School and Lincoln Fire and Rescue - who receive $0.25 per pound from the recycler. The proceeds benefit the groups' programs and projects:
- Eastridge Elementary School - to fund projects like a playground renovation.
- Lincoln Fire and Rescue - for their Operation Warm, which provides new winter coats to children in need.
Over 20 million pounds of holiday lights are recycled in the United States each year. The copper, brass, and plastic can be extracted for use as raw materials to make other products. Keeping these materials out of the landfills prevents the chemicals from leeching into the soil and contaminating local natural resources.
This recycling initiative allows the Campus Recreation department to showcase its high priority of being environmentally responsible. The sustainability committee is charged to identify ways to create, support, and advance the sustainability efforts within their programs and facilities.
Committee member Gary Kimminau says "The overarching goal for our committee is to look for ways to be environmentally responsible citizens. With this endeavor, we accomplish that goal in addition to helping our community."
When asked how this idea was chosen, Kimminau explained, "This initiative fits well with our committee goals, so when a committee member brought this opportunity to our attention it was an easy decision to go forward."
The holiday light collection program continues until January 6, 2021.