Two years ago, a 10-year-old Washington girl from Tacoma's Federal Way had a bright idea.
Jessica Lam wrote to the organizers of Zoolights, the annual holiday light display at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, suggesting they get involved in recycling strands of used and unwanted holiday lights – an idea she learned about from her grandfather.
The project would keep materials out of landfills and find new uses for the copper and plastic contained in the strings of lights. And with the value of copper soaring on world markets, it could generate revenue for the zoo.
Last season, the zoo collected 5,277 pounds of light strands and earned $4,975.
Also in 2009, the zoo gained a partner in the project, Girl Scouts of Western Washington. On Tuesday, Scouts were back at the zoo to kick off this year’s drive, which continues through Jan. 15
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