Five Rivers MetroParks and Cohen Recycling are greening the holidays by placing bins at seven MetroParks locations. Residents can drop off holiday lights for recycling, supporting MetroParks’ conservation mission. Cohen will make a donation to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation based on the number of lights recycled.
Drop off unwanted lights at any of the following MetroParks locations until February 1, 2025. Light strands should be loose and not in bags or boxes.Drop-off locations operate in a contactless manner, but we remind residents to wear a face covering when entering an indoor MetroParks facility.
Locations
The following locations are accessible during park hours, daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Carriage Hill MetroPark, 7800 E. Shull Rd.: Recycling bin located outside the Visitor Center entrance
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 6733 Springboro Pike: Recycling bin located outside the Visitor Center entrance
- Eastwood MetroPark (lake side), 1401 Harshman Rd.: Recycling bin located at the kiosk near the docks
- Englewood MetroPark, 4361 W. National Rd.: Recycling bin located near entrance
- Germantown MetroPark, 6910 Boomershine Rd.: Recycling bin located at the Twin Valley Welcome Center by kiosk next to sidewalk
- Possum Creek MetroPark, 4790 Frytown Rd.: Recycling bin located at the education building near Possum Creek Farm
- Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd.: Recycling bin located at the main parking lot entrance under the kiosk
- Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave.: Recycling bin located at the front of the main building
- Adventure Central at Wesleyan MetroPark, 2222 N James H McGee Blvd.: Recycling bin located at Adventure Central building.
- 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St.: Recycling bin is located at the northwest entrance by the bike parking and is accessible anytime.
Extra waste generated during the holidays — including decorations, food and paper waste —amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, according to the Use Less Stuff Report and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Over the last four years, MetroParks has collected 26,165 pounds of lights at its facilities. Additionally, Cohen has donated a total of $8,589 to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation to support MetroParks’ mission to protect the region’s natural heritage.
“Recycling holiday lights is a win-win for people and the planet,” said MetroParks Sustainability Manager Kelly Bohrer. “Recycling lights reduces landfill waste, keeps the lights from entangling wildlife and prevents adding toxins to our soil and water. It also allows us to reuse valuable materials (copper) and supports the circular economy.”
Information about the holiday light recycling program is online at metroparks.org/lights.
