Winter waste tips

Lexington’s Division of Environmental Services partners with businesses and organizations throughout the county for a special yard sign and stake collection each year. The metal stakes are reused, and the signs are repurposed for craft projects. Stakes that cannot be reused are recycled through LFUCG’s metal recycling program.

Collection dates: Nov.6 – Nov. 18, 2024
Locations: Collection bins available during regular business hours

• Charles Young Center: 504 E. Third Street, Lexington, KY 40508
• Dunbar Community Center: 545 N. Upper Street, Lexington, KY 40508
• Kenwick Community Center: 313 Owsley Avenue, Lexington, KY 40502
• Tates Creek Community Center: 3460 Campus Way, Lexington, KY 40517
• Fayette County Extension Office: 1140 Harry Sykes Way, Lexington, KY 40504
• Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Center: 200 E. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507
• Lexington Senior Center: 195 Life Lane, Lexington, KY 40502
• Crank & Boom
  • Distillery District: 1210 Manchester Street, Lexington, KY 40504
  • Clays Mill: 3101 Clays Mill Road, Suite 301, Lexington, KY 40503 (Stonewall Center)
• John’s Run/Walk
  • Ashland: 317 S. Ashland Avenue, Lexington, KY 40502
  • Palomar: 3735 Palomar Centre Drive, Unit 140, Lexington, KY 40513
• Wild Birds Unlimited: 152 N. Locust Hill Drive, Lexington, KY 40509
• West Sixth: 501 W. Sixth Street, #100, Lexington, KY 40508

Don’t throw out your broken string lights this season and don't put them in your recycle cart. Recycle them through the city’s special collection drive! Lights cannot go in curbside recycling carts or mixed recycling dumpsters. They get tangled in equipment, causing delays and damage at the Recycle Center.

String lights, extension cords, light sensors, power strips, timers, electric candles, other electronics and household batteries can be taken to the city’s Electronic Recycling Center year-round. Each winter, Lexington’s Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works partners with businesses in Fayette County to host a special collection drive, making it even more convenient for residents to dispose of these items properly. This is the seventh annual holiday lights drive. Nearly 2,000 pounds of lights and other small electronics were collected for recycling last year.

Collection dates: Nov. 19, 2024 – Jan. 12, 2025 
Locations: Collection bins available during regular business hours

• Charles Young Center: 504 E. Third Street, Lexington, KY 40508
• Dunbar Community Center: 545 N. Upper Street, Lexington, KY 40508
• Kenwick Community Center: 313 Owsley Avenue, Lexington, KY 40502
• Tates Creek Community Center: 3460 Campus Way, Lexington, KY 40517
• Fayette County Extension Office: 1140 Harry Sykes Way, Lexington, KY 40504
• Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Center: 200 E. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507
• Lexington Senior Center: 195 Life Lane, Lexington, KY 40502
• Crank & Boom
  • Distillery District: 1210 Manchester Street, Lexington, KY 40504
  • Clays Mill: 3101 Clays Mill Road, Suite 301, Lexington, KY 40503 (Stonewall Center)
• John’s Run/Walk
  • Ashland: 317 S. Ashland Avenue, Lexington, KY 40502
  • Palomar: 3735 Palomar Centre Drive, Unit 140, Lexington, KY 40513
• Wild Birds Unlimited: 152 N. Locust Hill Drive, Lexington, KY 40509
• West Sixth: 501 W. Sixth Street, #100, Lexington, KY 40508

Lights and other electronics can be taken directly to the Electronics Recycling Center year-round. The center is located at 1306 Versailles Road. Visit lexingtonky.gov/eWaste for hours of operation.

Natural Christmas trees: Remove all lights and decorations. Place at the curb on your regular collection day, from dates TBD. Natural trees will be composted at the city’s composting facility.

Residents without City service: Residents without curbside city service can take their natural trees to the Haley Pike Waste Management Facility.

Drop-off site: The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources also has drop-off sites for natural Christmas trees at various locations, including Jacobson Park. Christmas tree drop-off sites will be open from dates TBD. Check the Fish & Wildlife website for locations and more information.

Artificial Christmas trees: Those with city service can break down their artificial trees and place them next to your green trash cart at the curb on your regular collection day. Artificial trees in good condition can be donated to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Visit Lexington's Restore for details.

The following items can go to the Electronics Recycling Center, open six days a week.

• String lights, rope lights, electric candles
• Televisions
• Computers
• Hand-held games
• Game consoles
• Cell phones
• Extension cords
• Timers
   

Never place eWaste in the blue recycle cart.

• Use a reusable shopping bag.
• Reuse gift boxes and gift bags.
• Purchase items with less packaging and packaging that is recyclable in Lexington.
• Use old newsprint, gift bags, and catalogs instead of purchasing new wrapping paper.
• Plastic bags, bubble wrap and plastic wrap are NOT recyclable in your blue cart, but many grocery stores have plastic bag collection bins for these items. 
• Give rechargeable batteries with gifts that requires batteries.
• Give experiences, not things.
   

You can always donate unwanted items in good condition