Midlands Simon to benefit from Christmas lights recycling drive

Golden Island Shopping Centre Athlone is one of three locations across the Midlands which will be accepting damaged or broken Christmas lights as part of a major campaign to raise vital funds for local homeless charity, Midlands Simon.

The campaign, which is now in its eight year, is the branchild of KMK Metals Recycling, which is based at Cappincur, on the outskirts of Tullamore. Specially-designed trolleys will be located in the Golden Island Shopping Centre where members of the public can drop off any Christmas lights that cannot be repaired or reused. For every set of lights recycled, KMK Metals Recyling will make a donation to the Midlands Simon Community. The trolleys will remain in place until the end of January 2024, and members of the public are reminded not to put any packaging into the collection points.

This year's campaign was jointly launched at KMK's headquarters in Tullamore by Minister Pippa Hackett and Ossian Smith as part of a Circular Economy Tour of Offaly, with Minister Hackett urging people to “search high and low” for any old or damaged Christmas lights and to bring them to the drop-off points in Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore. “Recycling your damaged Christmas lights is an innovative and low-cost way to support the worthwhile work of Midlands Simon Community” she added.

Midlands Simon Community offers many services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to help get them back on their feet as quickly as possible. The charity offers services and support to people in the Midlands region of Offaly, Westmeath, Laois and Longford and aims to help users of the service to rebuild their lives and move out of homelessness into a permanent home.

Max Kyck, General Manager of KMK Metals Recycling said his company is hoping for “a big response” from the public this year. “It is far too easy to realise your Christmas lights are beyond repair and just stuff them back up in the attic out of sight” he said, adding that homes across Ireland already have “far too much hidden e-waste.”

Mr. Kyck reminded members of the public that anything with “a plug, battery or cable is free to recycle in local authority sites or participating electrical retailers” and added that KMK is making it easier for people to recycle their Christmas lights by putting collection points in three local shopping centres.

“Midlands Simon Community and all its volunteers need this support to offer homes to people who are homeless, provide tents and sleeping bags to those who are rough sleeping and emergency accommodation for those in crisis” concluded Max Kyck.

The other two shopping centres in the Midlands taking part in the Midlands Simon fundraising drive are Harbour Place Shopping Centre in Mullingar and The Bridge Shopping Centre in Tullamore.