Recycling holiday lights a bright idea at Eastridge

Old strands of holiday lights may not work, but they’re far from worthless.

A project at a central Lincoln elementary school is aimed at helping Mother Earth while taking steps to fund a walking path.

An organized effort to keep thousands of pounds of strands of holiday lights out of local landfills will pay added dividends at Eastridge Elementary School, 6245 L St.

The 2013 Recycle Holiday Lights Drive will not only protect the environment, it will benefit projects organized by the Eastridge Elementary School PTO.

Scrap Central Inc. has agreed to pay the school 25 cents per pound for lights collected through the drive. Proceeds support PTO initiatives and phase two of the Eastridge playground renovation, which calls for building a community walking track that the community can use outside of school hours. The walking track will be handicap-accessible.

Other projects

Phase one involved raising over $60,000 for a new traditional play structure. It was installed over a three-day period in late October.

“We are now just waiting for the safety flooring to be installed underneath,” said event chair Angie Alesio. “The students are very excited to play on it.”

Phase two – the community walking track – will cost about $22,500. Phase three calls for a Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom.

Partners

The list of partners jumping on aboard the 2013 Recycle Holiday Lights Drive is growing daily, said Angie Alesio.

There is no cost or sponsorship fee to partners. It is free to be involved. The Eastridge PTO provides the bin, signage, delivery and pick-up of light strands.

Drive begins Dec. 1

Any business or organization interested in participating is asked to email: eastridgepto@yahoo.com or participate by donating lights at any participating drop off site. The drive begins Dec. 1 and runs through Jan. 5, 2014.

Organizers will accept lights that are working and those that don’t.

Drop-off locations are:

Bella Skin Care Massage Therapy, 4726 Cooper Ave.; Campbell’s Nurseries Garden Centers, 5625 Pine Lake Road; Christmas Décor by Festive Expressions, 604 Calvert St.; Community CROPS, 1551 S. Second St.; Earl May locations, 48th Hwy 2 and 70th O; Eastridge Elementary School, 6245 L St.; Eastridge Neighborhood Association; Finke Gardens, 500 N. 66th St.; Leon’s Gourmet Grocer, 2200 Winthrop Road; Michael’s Arts Crafts, 3010 Pine Lake Road, Suite A; Mills Squeegee Fill Stations, 27th Superior and 70th Pioneers; On The Go Convenience Store, 5240 S. 48th St.; Prairie Lake Mobile, 8600 Amber Hill Ct.; Prudential Real Estate, 3801 Union Drive, Suite 204; Russ’s Market locations: 33rd Hwy 2, 66th O, 70th Van Dorn, South Coddington West A St.; Scrap Central Inc., 8515 Blondo St., Omaha; Super Saver stores: 27th Cornhusker, Fallbrook Blvd., 48th O, and 56th Hwy 2; Valentino’s Italian Buffet and T-Go, 35th Holdrege, 35th Holdrege; Valentino’s Grand Italian Buffet, 70th Van Dorn; Vega, 350 Canopy Street, Suite 220; and Yankee Hill Landscaping Co. Inc. , 11855 Yankee Hill Road.