JOLIET – Those strings of brightly colored lights have a special place on homes and Christmas trees each holiday season, and when they burn out they should be recycled, not sent to the landfill.

     Will County Executive Larry Walsh reminds residents that there are 12 permanent electronic recycling centers throughout the County ready to accept the lights. "In this season of celebration, let's give ourselves a gift by being respectful of our planet. Take advantage of the services the County provides to keep string lights and other electronics out of our landfill."

     Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist with the Will County Land Use – Resource Recovery and Energy Division, agreed. "String lights are recyclable and should never be simply sent to the landfill. When you recycle, you save valuable resources, energy and prevent water pollution."

      Permanent residential recycling sites are at: 299 Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook; 25461 S. Fryer St., Channahon; Forest Preserve District of Will County office, 17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet; 17112 Prime Blvd., Lockport; 24645 S. Eastern Ave, Manhattan; 19004 Wolf Road, Mokena; Monee Reservoir, 27341 Ridgeland Ave, Monee; 1100 S. Cedar Road, New Lenox; Reed-Custer School District, behind maintenance garage, 162 S. School St., Braidwood; 195 S. Budler Road, Romeoville; 30200 Town Center Road, Beecher; and Troy Township Highway Department, 25358 Seil Road, Shorewood.  

    Hours vary by site. For additional information about electronic recycling, hours of operation and Will County Land Use -RRE, go to www.willcountygreen.com.