Whether at the beginning of your holiday decorating or at the end, the Homewood-Flossmoor community has holiday recycling options.
When you’re getting your holiday lights ready, remember to dispose of the old or unusable strings through recycling. Collection stations are open from Monday, Nov. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Flossmoor Village Hall, H-F Ice Arena, H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, Irons Oaks, Irwin Community Center and Wiley’s Grill.
The Christmas tree recycling program begins Dec. 26 and continues through Jan. 18 at the Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center, Western Avenue at Vollmer Road. Trees left there during the four-week period must be completely free of ornaments, tinsel, tags and plastic.
Volunteers will also be available to help remove trees from vehicles between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the center’s Vollmer Road parking lot. Refreshments will be served and guests can enjoy a warm fire.
This is the seventh year for the volunteer recycling effort. Jennifer Molski founded the program with her husband, Tony Manos. Last holiday season the recycling initiative collected about 700 trees. Molski estimates since collections started more than 3,500 trees that otherwise would have headed for landfill have been recycled and used as mulch at various H-F Park District facilities.