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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Shijiao, China: Where Broken Christmas Lights Go to Die

Americans buy millions of Christmas tree lights every year -- and throw them away as soon as one burns out. For companies in China, that’s creating an opportunity that's almost like panning for gold. A single strand of burned-out Christmas lights weighs almost nothing.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Americans buy millions of Christmas tree lights every year -- and throw them away as soon as one burns out. For companies in China, that’s creating an opportunity that's almost like panning for gold. A single strand of burned-out Christmas lights weighs almost nothing. So imagine how many strands make up the 20 million pounds of American Christmas lights China recycles every year. That’s the subject of a recent article by Adam Minter in the Atlantic magazine.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

  • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

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    Adam Minter

    author of the book “"Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale."

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