NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. -- A new program is encouraging New Hanover County residents to recycle their Christmas lights. 

The county is collecting broken or burnt out lights at several locations. In just a little over two weeks, they've already received about 400 pounds of lights, which will be sold to scrap metal dealers. 

Proceeds will go to Keep New Hanover Beautiful, an organization that promotes recycling. 

"Instead of putting something that can be recycled in one trash container, if you put it in a recycling container or take it to a place it can be recycled, it makes a world of difference for the world. About 80 percent of what you consume can be recycled," says Kendall Welch with Keep New Hanover Beautiful. 

The program continues through January 5th. You can drop off lights at all four New Hanover County Public Library locations, the county's mobile HazWagon and Household Hazardous Waste Facility and the Wrightsville Beach Recycling Center.