The Hendricks County Recycling District has published a Holiday Recycling Guide. This guide includes essential recycling information for wrapping paper, cardboard, Styrofoam, Christmas trees, holiday lights, electronics, and more.
If you discover that your strands of holiday lights no longer twinkle, Plainfield Middle School is hosting a Holiday Light Recycling Drive until December 19. Lights can be dropped off outside Door 27, at the IDEALab, or in the school’s main gym lobby. In addition, NuGenesis in Moorseville, RecycleForce in Indianapolis, and Electronics Recyclers International in Plainfield will accept string lights.
Natural Christmas trees will be collected for free at the Recycling District’s Yard Waste Recycling Centers in Brownsburg and Plainfield. Beginning in January, the Town of Brownsburg will provide residents with free curbside pickup for natural Christmas trees. Another great Christmas tree recycling option is GreenCycle in Danville. Trees must be free of all decorations, tinsel, and lights.
During the holidays, cardboard is as prevalent as candy canes and hot chocolate. Unlike those tasty treats, cardboard is very recyclable and accepted in local trash providers’ curbside recycling programs. The Lizton Recycling Center is also ready to help you recycle your cardboard (over 130 tons of cardboard has already been recycled there this year!). Plastic and glass food and beverage containers, wrapping paper, cartons, and steel and aluminum cans can also be recycled there. The Lizton Recycling Center is typically open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. (It will close at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.)
Most electronics, including cell phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs, cannot be disposed of in your regular trash. Many contain precious metals and dangerous chemicals. NuGenesis in Moorseville, RecycleForce in Indianapolis, Electronics Recyclers International in Plainfield, and Technology Recyclers in Indianapolis will accept electronics. Expect to pay to recycle TVs and monitors.
Alkaline batteries are safe to throw away. Rechargeable and button batteries should always be recycled. Take care when using, storing, and charging lithium-ion batteries. Lowe’s in Brownsburg and Avon, NuGenesis in Moorseville, and Batteries Plus in Avon will accept batteries.
Styrofoam or polystyrene can be recycled, but few programs exist to accept it due to its low weight. Only clean material can be received at RecycleForce in Indianapolis.
Visit the Recycling District’s website to learn more.
