Campus Recreation's sustainability committee is providing holiday light recycling for students, staff and faculty. Old, broken and outdated strands of lights can be dropped in collection boxes at the Campus Rec Center and Outdoor Adventures Center on City Campus and the Rec & Wellness Center on East Campus through Jan. 6.

All light strands collected at the Campus Rec locations will be divided between local organizations, who receive $0.25 per pound from a recycler. The proceeds benefit these groups' programs and projects:

• Eastridge Elementary School to fund various PTO projects.
• Lincoln Fire and Rescue for Operation Warm, which provides new winter coats to children in need.
• Science Focus Program. a science-based education program with Lincoln Public Schools.

More than 20 million pounds of holiday lights are recycled in the United States each year. Copper, brass and plastic can be extracted for use as raw materials to make other products. Keeping these materials out of the landfills prevents the chemicals from leaching into the soil and contaminating local natural resources.

This recycling initiative allows the Campus Recreation department to showcase its high priority of being environmentally responsible. The sustainability committee is charged to identify ways to create, support and advance the sustainability efforts within their programs and facilities.