For many, twinkling holiday lights are a beautiful and anticipated seasonal feature.

But what should you do with them after they stop working or when you want new ones? With these ideas, you can find a new purpose for your old festive strands of lights.

The environmental problem

The holiday season can be joyous, but it also generates a lot of garbage. Americans throw away about 25 percent more this time of year, straining landfills. Wrapping paper, packaging, and food are the major culprits, but discarded lights are often mixed in as well, releasing harmful chemicals like mercury and lead into the environment. Unfortunately, putting them in the recycling bin instead isn’t a great solution either since they often contain a mix of glass, metal, and plastic that must be separated before processing. Additionally, their long cords can damage recycling equipment by getting tangled in it. If you have old lights on your hands, don’t lose hope—there are several safer options for getting rid of them or repurposing them.

Try swapping them out 

Before giving up on your malfunctioning holiday lights, even if they seem as determined to stay dark as Clark Griswold’s in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you can check for a simple solution. It may be possible that a blown fuse or burned-out bulb is responsible for the malfunction, and replacement parts are likely readily available. However, don’t attempt to revive ones with broken sockets, loose connections, or frayed wires, which can create a safety or fire hazard.

Recycle or upcycle

If it isn’t possible to salvage your holiday lights, contact your local municipal waste service to determine whether there is a recycling program in your area where you could drop them off. You could also check whether your local Home Depot or Lowe’s will take them; some locations will accept them for recycling during the holiday season. If your lights are still in good condition, consider donating them to a friend, school, or thrift store or even listing them for free on an online platform like Facebook Marketplace or a Buy Nothing group.

Another option is to use your craft skills to repurpose them. For instance, string them across your patio to create extra sparkle or stuff them into a jar or lantern to add inexpensive but beautiful lighting to your front porch. Or slip a faux flower or brightly colored plastic cup around each bulb to make festive decor for your next party. Creatively reusing these seasonal decorations can give them new life and allow you to enjoy them well past the new year.

It may take extra work to properly dispose of or breathe new life into your old holiday lights, but doing so will be worth the effort for your own peace of mind and the planet’s health.