Homegrown: Recycling trees and lights

I'm hesitant to mention "recycling" and "lights" in the same phrase, but here goes.

Several places accept unwanted holiday lights for recycling, but facilities manager Alan Schumacher at City Carton Recycling notes that curbside recycling bins are not among them.

Strings of lights clog up machinery at the recycling center, forcing workers to go through time-consuming repairs. So do not place lights, ropes or any other strings in your recycling bins.

If you have Christmas lights that no longer work, the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency recycles them for free at either of its locations: 1954 County Home Rd., Marion, or 2250 A St. SW, Cedar Rapids.

In Johnson County, the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center's electronic waste program collected 700 pounds of lights for recycling last year.

Residents can drop off lights -- no packaging or other decorations -- in holiday light recycling containers at these locations between now and Jan 10: Hy-Vee Stores at 1720 Waterfront Dr.; 812 S. First Ave. and 1201 N. Dodge St. in Iowa City; the Lantern Park Plaza Hy-Vee in Coralville; ReStore, 2401 Scott Blvd. SE, and the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center, 3900 Hebl Ave. SW.

Christmas trees also have a variety of recycling options.

My favorite is simple: I put the tree in my backyard and use it to hang suet or other food for birds, as well as thieving squirrels.

Another use is cutting the boughs to place over perennials for extra winter protection.

Some people try sinking trees in farm ponds to use as fish habitat.

The Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids takes trees -- with tinsel and other decorations removed -- at the Sac and Fox Trailhead parking lot on Bertram Road SE. The trees are chipped to spread on walking trails. Flocked trees are not accepted.

Linn County residents can drop off their trees at either landfill site, but there is a $5 fee.

Iowa City will have curbside pick up of Christmas trees -- no decorations or flocked trees -- from Jan. 10 to Jan. 29.

Cedar Rapids offers curbside pick up as part of its yard waste program on regular trash collection days at any time of year, but the trees must be cut into 3-foot sections.