Photo taken prior to the pandemic and does not reflect current CDC best practices.
Five Rivers Metroparks and ODNR participated in a similar conservation project in early 2019, when Metroparks’ parks and conservation staff and volunteers and ODNR sunk nearly 750 trees into Eastwood Lake. The results of that project also have been successful, improving Eastwood Lake’s aquatic habitat and opportunities for angler
Christmas Lights Recycling
Five Rivers MetroParks and Cohen Recycling are making the holidays greener by providing bins at six MetroParks locations where residents can drop off holiday lights to be recycled. Recycling these lights supports MetroParks’ conservation mission, as Cohen will make a donation to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation based on how many lights are recycled.
Drop off unwanted lights at any of the following MetroParks locations through Sunday, Jan. 31. Light strands should be loose and not in bags or boxes.
Drop-off locations are contactless, but residents are reminded to maintain social distancing and wear face coverings if they encounter other park-goers who aren’t in their households.
- The following locations are accessible during park hours, daily from 8 am to 8 pm.
- Carriage Hill MetroPark, 7800 E. Shull Rd., Dayton: Recycling bin is located at the entrance to the Visitor Center.
- Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd., Bellbrook: Recycling bin is located at the main parking lot entrance under the kiosk.
- Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton: Recycling bin is located at the front of the main building.
- Possum Creek MetroPark, 4790 Frytown Rd., Dayton: Recycling bin located at the education building at the Possum Creek Farm.
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton. Recycling bin located outside the Visitor Center entrance.
- 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton: Recycling bin is located at the southeast entrance and is accessible anytime.
Extra waste generated during the holidays — including decorations, food and paper waste —amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, according to the Use Less Stuff Report and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
This is the second holiday season the recycling program has been offered. Last year, MetroParks collected 3,600 pounds of lights. Cohen donated $2,000 to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation to support MetroParks’ mission to protect the Dayton region’s natural heritage.
“It was a great first year for MetroParks, and the agency expects to increase collection significantly this year,” said Tim Pritchard, Five Rivers MetroParks’ sustainability coordinator. “The holidays are a busy time and recycling might not be top-of-mind, so we wanted to make it easy for people to make more sustainable choices. Cohen is helping keep waste out of the landfill while supporting MetroParks’ conservation mission.”
