Burlington Review

Burlington County has announced the establishment of a second location for residents to dispose of unwanted or damaged holiday lights in an environmentally responsible manner. This initiative aims to prevent these items from ending up in household trash or recycling bins, where they can cause damage.

Residents are encouraged to bring their non-working lights to either the e-waste recycling drop-off at the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex located at 22000 Burlington-Columbus Road in Florence or the newly added Burlington County Agricultural Center at 500 Centerton Road, Moorestown.

Tom Pullion, Burlington County Commissioner and liaison to the Department of Solid Waste and Recycling, stated, “As Burlington County residents unbox their holiday decorations, we’re asking them to avoid adding more waste to landfills or risk damages to our recycling equipment.” He emphasized that bringing non-working lights to designated locations gives components a new useful life and is an eco-friendly way to celebrate the holidays.

For those visiting the Resource Recovery Complex with lights or other electronics, instructions will be provided upon entry. The site accepts various electronic waste such as old televisions, computers, monitors, printers, cell phones, and other small devices.

The Agricultural Center's collection will begin on December 7 during the special Holiday Market at the Burlington County Farmers Market and continue through January 2025. A designated box for light disposal will be available outside the Farmhouse Kitchen entrance near the main parking lot.

“We’re excited to bring this free County service to the Agricultural Center during the holidays so that residents have another convenient location to recycle their holiday lights,” said Pullion. He noted that over 2,500 pounds of holiday string lights have been recycled this year alone and anticipates that a second location will further encourage green practices among residents.

Burlington County was one of New Jersey's pioneers in establishing a regional recycling program and remains unique in offering no-cost recycling services across all its municipalities. Last year alone saw nearly 82 million pounds of recyclables collected from county households, saving towns over $3.8 million in landfill tipping fees.

Further information about recycling is accessible via Burlington County’s free Recycle Coach app available on Apple and GooglePlay stores. The app provides details on accepted materials for curbside recycling bins along with updates on collection schedules per town.

For inquiries regarding proper disposal methods for electronics or other materials, individuals can contact 609-499-1001 or email recycle@co.burlington.nj.us.