Last year, Covington collected 625 pounds of non-working holiday lights as part of a recycling initiative. This year, the city aims to surpass that total with four drop-off locations available starting Monday.
Residents are encouraged to recycle their non-working lights instead of discarding them in the trash. The City of Covington collaborates with Cohen Recycling and the Keep Covington Beautiful program from The Center for Great Neighborhoods for this effort. Last year's collection marked an increase of 118 pounds compared to the previous year.
"Little by little, people are beginning to take advantage of this easy way they can protect the environment, and our goal as always is to top the year before," said Sheila Fields, the City’s Solid Waste & Recycling manager. "Holiday light strings contain plastic, glass, copper, and even lead. If you toss your lights in the trash they will sit in a landfill for years with the risk of harming land and our water supply."
The recycling program starts on December 1 and continues through February 1, 2025. Drop-off locations include:
- City Hall lobby at 20 West Pike St., open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Covington Fire Department’s Station No. 5 at 1255 Hands Pike in South Covington, with a bin available outside around-the-clock.
- The Center for Great Neighborhoods lobby at 321 M.L. King Jr. Blvd./W. 12th St., open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon.
- Covington Public Works lobby at 1730 Russell St., open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Additionally, Kenton County offers eight drop-off spots including one at the Kenton County Administration Building at 1840 Simon Kenton Way in Covington, while Campbell County is also participating.
All types of string lights are accepted during this event, whether traditional or LED-style bulbs. Other electric holiday yard decorations like projectors or motors on inflatable characters can be recycled at Cohen Recycling Centers after calling ahead for details.