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Holiday Lights Collection

December 1 – January 31

What do you do with non-working strings of holiday lights (after you’ve tried replacing broken bulbs and fuses)? Recycle them with us by dropping them off between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31 at one of more than 30 locations in more than 20 neighborhoods across Chicago.

Yes, you read that right. After collecting more than 3,000 pounds of lights from 24 locations last year, our fourth annual (non-working) Holiday Lights Collection is growing across the city.

Check out the map and list of locations below. You can drop your non-working lights off during regular working hours. However, due to holiday vacation staffing at some businesses, we advise to call ahead.

Important notes

✅ Try replacing bulbs and fuses first. All light sets come with extras
✅ Separate lights from any other decor, garland or wreaths
🚫 No plastic bags
🚫 No cardboard packaging

This year we’ve added locations in Albany Park, Garfield Ridge and Irving Park (and we’re working on more on the South Side and River North). Know of a business or organization that would like to be a drop off location? Have them and let us know!

Are you a WasteNot Compost customer?

WasteNot Compost is partnering with us to offer broken holiday lights pickup in ! Add “Broken Holiday Light Collection” to your cart, follow the directions and WasteNot will collect the lights along with your compost.

Chicago drop-off locations, from north to south:

  • Edgebrook Ace Hardware: 5423 W. Devon Ave. (773-775-7205)
  • 50th Ward Office: 2949 W. Devon Ave. (773-262-1050)
  • 6018North: 6018 N. Kemore Ave. (773-271-4918)
  • American Airlines, O’Hare Airport*
  • 40th Ward Office: 5620 N. Western Ave. (773-654-1867)
  • 48th Ward Office: 1129 W Bryn Mawr (773-784-5277)
  • Forest Glen Animal Hospital: 5330 N. Elston Ave. (773-283-2443)
  • Forest Glen Community Club*
  • Mr V’s Pizza: 5285 N. Elston Ave. (773-736-9434)
  • The Lost Hours Coffee Shop: 5256 N. Broadway St. (NA)
  • Chicago Waldorf School: 5200 N. Ashland Ave. (773-465-2662) After Jan. 6
  • A Pretty Flower: 2334 W. Lawrence Ave. (773-506-0806)
  • IL House District 15 Office: 4200 W. Lawrence Ave. (773-736-0218)
  • Khepri Cafe: 4650 N. Kedzie Ave. (872-208-7919)
  • Lincoln Square Animal Hospital: 4501 N. Lincoln Ave. (773-271-1901)
  • IL House District 19 Office: 4349 N. Milwaukee Ave. (773-647-1174)
  • 47th Ward Office: 4243 N. Lincoln Ave. (773-868-4747)
  • Northcenter Chamber of Commerce: 4045 N. Lincoln Ave. (773-525-3609)
  • UPS Store: 4044 N. Lincoln Ave. (773-871-1400)
  • Erwin Law LLC: 4043 N. Ravenswood, Suite 208 (773-525-0153)
  • IL House District 40 Office: 4007 N. Sacramento Ave. (773-267-2880)
  • Katherine Anne Confections: 3665 W. Irving Park Rd. (773-727-3248)
  • Bartleby’s Ice Cream: 1943 W. Byron Ave. (773-770-9019)
  • Henry’s House: 3655 N. Bell Ave. (773-344-1976)
  • 30th Ward Office: 5718 W. Belmont Ave. (773-628-7874)
  • Hero Coffee & Bagel Bar: 2950 N. Sheridan Rd. (773-661-1254)
  • 32nd Ward Office: 2657 N. Clybourn Ave. (773-248-1330)
  • Rebuilding Exchange: 1740 W. Webster Ave. (773-252-2234)
  • Katherine Anne Confections: 2745 W. Armitage Ave. (773-727-3248)
  • 1st Ward Office: 1958 N. Milwaukee Ave. (872-206-2685)
  • The WasteShed: 1754 N. Kimball Ave. (773-666-5997)
  • The Refilleri: 1007 N. California Ave. (312-783-0684)
  • The Unwaste Shop: 1108 W. Madison St. (312-804-9730)
  • Trash Castle: 1048 W. 37th St. ()
  • The Plant: 1400 W. 46th St. (773-357-7192)
  • UPS Store: 6102 S. Archer Ave. (312-835-1908)

* – Drop-off locations are private and will be promoted internally.

Outside Chicago

  • Rebuilding Exchange: 1245 Hartrey Ave., Evanston (847-864-9246)
  • Whittier Elementary PTO: 715 North Harvey, Oak Park (during school hours)

Volunteer with us!

Help us pickup non-working holiday lights from collection locations. Volunteers will adopt a drop-off site, switch out bins when they’re full and drop them off at our storage unit on Lincoln Ave. just north of Addison.

Thank you to our sponsors

Scenes from past Holiday Lights Collections

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