Posted By: The Reporter November 21, 2025
Submitted by City of Carmel
Carmel residents have the opportunity to make this holiday season truly green by recycling lights instead of throwing them away.
The community can recycle used and unwanted lights by taking them to White’s Ace Hardware & Garden Center, 731 S. Range Line Road, Monday, Nov. 24 through Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. The recycling drive is sponsored by Carmel Clay School’s Green Teams, Carmel Utilities, the City of Carmel, Technology Recyclers, and White’s Ace Hardware & Garden Center.
Since the start of the collaborative program in 2011, more than 19 tons of lights have been recycled. Recycling inoperable or inefficient lights keeps those items out of landfills, which reduces the long-term carbon impact on the environment.
Carmel Utilities recommends using EnergyStar-rated LED lights as they reduce energy usage by 75 percent compared to conventional incandescent lights. Not only will you save in energy costs and lower your carbon footprint, LED lights also have the following advantages:
- Safer: LEDs are much cooler than incandescent lights, reducing the risk of combustion or burnt fingers.
- Sturdier: LEDs are made with epoxy lenses and are much more resistant to breakage.
- Longer Lasting: The LED lights last 25 times longer than conventional lights.
For more information about the Holiday Lights Recycling Drive, please all Kelli Prader with the Marketing & Community Relations department at (317) 571-2494.
