This holiday season has been filled with twinkling lights adorning houses, trees and festive sculptures across metro Detroit. But what happens when these lights dim and burn out, their glow reduced to mere electrical waste? 

With the holiday season now drawing to a close, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is welcoming community members to recycle their retired holiday lights with us! Individuals and families can bring in unwanted, burned-out or broken holiday lights to be recycled free of charge. The light collection runs through January at the guest services office near the front of the Zoo.

Through this initiative, we can work together to alleviate the burden on landfills and champion a sustainable approach to handling electrical waste. As a bonus, donated lights will help raise money to fuel the Zoo’s sustainability programs. From planting trees throughout metro Detroit to inspiring the next generation of suitability leaders through GreenPrize, our programs are helping to build a greener future for all.  

By recycling your old lights at the Zoo, you’re not just disposing of unwanted holiday décor — you’re actively participating in a larger movement. You’re nurturing a cycle where discarded lights find new purpose, contributing to the DZS’s conservation work and supporting sustainability programs. 

Recycle your lights at the Zoo to help us ignite a brighter (and greener) future!