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 starting December 1 until February 1 . 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., Dayton: Recycling bin is located outside the Visitor Center entrance.
- Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd., Bellbrook: Recycling bin is located at the main parking lot entrance under the kiosk.
- Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton: Recycling bin is located at the front of the main building.
- Possum Creek MetroPark, 4790 Frytown Rd., Dayton: Recycling bin located at the education building at the Possum Creek Farm.
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton. Recycling bin located outside the Visitor Center entrance.
- 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton: Recycling bin is located at the northwest entrance 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.
They have offered the recycling program for the fifth holiday season. Last year, MetroParks collected 5,900 pounds of lights. Over the past three years, Cohen contributed a total of 6,674.82 to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation to support MetroParks’ mission of protecting the natural heritage of the Dayton region.
“It’s exciting to be able to offer this resource to the community,” said Bernadette Whitworth, Five Rivers MetroParks historical and cultural resources manager. “Recycling lights that no longer work and were going to be thrown away is such an easy way to be more sustainable this holiday season. And it’s a chance to spend some time outdoors.”
Information about the holiday light recycling program is online at metroparks.org/lights.