Recyclin’ around the Christmas tree… in aid of Midlands Simon

KMK Metals Recycling Ltd. has teamed up with Tullamore’s Bridge Shopping Centre, Harbour Place Shopping Centre in Mullingar and Golden Island Shopping Centre in Athlone to give shoppers the opportunity to recycle old and broken Christmas lights for free. Any money raised recycling the Christmas lights will be donated to the Midlands Simon Community.

Specially-designed trolleys have been placed in each of the three shopping centres making it simple for members of the public to drop off lights while out shopping. The trolleys will remain in place until the end of January giving people the opportunity to take down their festive decorations and recycle any indoor or outdoor Christmas lights that are no longer working.

Max Kyck, General Manager of KMK Metals Recycling, said: “We expect to collect fewer Christmas lights through our annual appeal as people won’t be shopping as regularly due to COVID-19 concerns, but it is still important to raise awareness about the importance of recycling. We don’t want to encourage people to go to their local shopping centre just to recycle their lights, but to bring them along when they are doing their weekly shop.

"The most important thing is that people do recycle their lights and don’t throw them into the general waste bin or let them gather dust in the attic. They can also be recycled for free at the local civic amenity or recycling centre and at participating electrical retailers, but this way a very worthy charity also benefits.”

People are asked to use the trolleys solely for recycling Christmas lights and to remove any packaging beforehand.