The Numbers Are In! Solid Waste Crews Collect Tons of Trees and Lights

SOLID WASTE CREWS COLLECT TONS OF TREES AND LIGHTS

RAPID CITY, SD—The City’s Solid Waste Division collected nearly 19 tons (18.94) of Christmas trees, wreaths and assorted greenery this season from the City’s two remote disposal sites at Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium and West Boulevard North, and the Rapid City Landfill after the Christmas holiday season. 

           In addition, 3.37 tons of non-working strings of Christmas lights and extension cords were collected at 14 sites this holiday season.  The number was down slightly from the nearly four tons collected after the 2023 Christmas season but higher than the 3.11 tons of lights recycled after the 2022 Christmas season and the 2.5 tons collected after the 2021 season.

          “The collection numbers can vary from season to season,” said City Solid Waste Outreach Coordinator Ria Hannon. “Still, the numbers were impressive both in terms of trees as well as non-working lights and extension cords that were collected and recycled.

          “We appreciate the efforts of city and area residents to recycle their trees and greenery items, and the strings of lights and cords.”

            Hannon says the lights recycling program helps protect the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) equipment from ‘tanglers’ – strings of lights that get caught or wrapped up in the machinery.  The tanglers force delays or shutdowns in the process to remove the items.

          Hannon said the Solid Waste facility’s grinder machines break down the trees and greenery items to be used as compost by the general public.

        There is a container outside of the Solid Waste Administration Building located at the Landfill for those that still need to dispose of their lights and extension cords. The container is available throughout the year.