The Holiday Light Recycling Drive, is entering its eighth year. In 2011, Southeast launched its first drive with the intent of providing work opportunities for its employees with developmental disabilities and diverting solid waste from local landfills. That first year, Southeast collected approximately 500 pounds of lights from 11 locations.

From 2012 through 2014, Southeast aggressively pursued partnerships with a variety of schools, businesses, and organizations throughout the Greater Kansas City Area. The response from the community has been overwhelming and Southeast has ultimately collected over 130,000 lbs. pounds of lights from over 160 different locations, the past few years.

November 21st, 2018 through January 11, 2019, Southeast Enterprises, a local nonprofit sheltered workshop that employs over 150 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is partnering with over 50 locations throughout the Kansas City area to provide drop-off sites where the public can bring their non-working holiday lights for recycling. Once collected, most of Southeast’s employees will work to prepare the lights for recycling.

Last year, the combined efforts of Southeast, sponsors/partners and citizens throughout the Greater Kansas City Area helped to save over 40,000 pounds of holiday lights from the landfill and keep Southeast’s employees working throughout the calendar year.

November 21st, 2018, through January 11, 2019, collection containers will be placed at participating locations throughout the Greater Kansas City area for drop-off. Sponsors/Partners, include but are not limited to Fox4, Westlake Ace Hardware, Mid-Continent Public Library, Two Men and a Truck and City Scrap Metal. A complete list is available online at http://www.southeastenterprises.org/kcrecyclelights/drop-off-locations/

Beyond the holiday light drive, they accept lights year round mailed to or dropped off at their facility located at Southeast Enterprises, 6701 Booth Ave., PO BOX 9473, Kansas City, MO 64133. Regular business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Southeast is excited to build on its success and collect over 40,000 additional pounds of lights with the help from many sponsors and partners. Southeast appreciates each and every one of their sponsors/partners and is looking forward another successsful drive this holiday season.