Early November is when the bins come down from the attic and the boxes come out of the basement. Somewhere between the first strand of lights and the last box of ornaments, most Canonsburg households find the same things: a pre-lit tree with half the lights dead, strands that will not untangle or light up, an inflatable that stopped inflating two years ago and a pile of décor nobody has put out in a long time. Sorting it now, before you decorate, means less clutter in December and more room in storage when the season is over.
Iron Bear & Co. is a family-owned, local junk removal company, established in 2015 (formerly Richie’s Hauling). We clear attics, basements, garages and storage spaces across Canonsburg, Cecil, Peters Township and the South Hills, and holiday decorations are part of a lot of the cleanouts we do this time of year.
Sort before you decorate
The easiest way to tackle a decoration backlog is to sort it into four piles as you unpack.
Keep. Things you will actually put out this year and that still work.
Donate. Working decorations, artificial trees in good shape and décor you have simply outgrown.
Recycle. Broken or tangled light strands, plus any electronics such as old speakers, light controllers or TVs that turn up in the same storage area.
Haul. Broken artificial trees, cracked plastic yard pieces, damaged inflatables and anything else that has reached the end of its life.
Plug in every strand and every lighted piece before it goes back on a shelf. If it does not work now, it will not work in December either.
What to do with old Christmas lights
Old light strands are one of the most common things people do not know how to get rid of. They are mostly copper wire, plastic and small bulbs, which makes them worth recycling rather than throwing away.
One local option is Michael Brothers Hauling and Recycling, which runs a holiday light recycling program. The company accepts old, broken or tangled lights year-round at its four facilities, including its Baldwin location at 901 Horning Road, and places collection stands around the Pittsburgh area during the season. Proceeds from lights donated through the program go to WTAE-TV’s Project Bundle-Up, which provides new winter coats and outerwear for children and seniors in Western Pennsylvania. In past seasons, collection bins have been set up at local businesses and municipal buildings in Washington and Allegheny counties, so check the program’s current locations before you drive anywhere.
Before you drop lights off, remove them from boxes, plastic reels and bags, and keep extension cords and timers separate.
Artificial trees, inflatables and lighted yard décor
Artificial trees are usually a mix of metal frame, plastic needles and wiring, and pre-lit trees add a full set of light strands on top of that. That combination makes them hard to recycle and awkward to fit in a trash bag. Lighted yard pieces and inflatables with fans or motors fall into the same category.
If a tree or yard piece still works, donation is the best route. Goodwill, for example, lists a Canonsburg store at 3492 Washington Road in Washington County’s recycling directory. Call ahead to confirm what they are accepting, especially during the busy weeks before the holidays.
If it is broken, it needs to go out with the trash or be hauled away, which is where Canonsburg’s collection rules come in.
What Canonsburg trash pickup will take
Canonsburg Borough’s trash and recycling service is provided through County Hauling. The borough’s guidelines say:
Bagged garbage only. All garbage must be bagged, and loose garbage in cans will not be collected.
Weekly limits. Only one large bulk item and 10 bags are collected each week, and bags must be a manageable weight.
Timing. Trash and recycling go out the night before or by 6 a.m. on your collection day.
No building materials. If you are pairing the decoration sort with a remodel, a dumpster or bagster is needed, and the borough requires a permit through its Code Enforcement office.
A single broken tree may count as your one bulk item for the week, but a garage or attic full of old décor usually will not fit inside those limits, especially if you are also clearing out furniture or other items. County Hauling can be reached at 724-929-7694 with questions about what they will take. If you live outside the borough in Cecil, North Strabane or Peters Township, your township or HOA may use a different hauler with different rules, so check before you set anything out.
When it makes sense to call us
Most people do not call a junk removal company for one tangled strand of lights. They call when the decorations are one part of a bigger problem: an attic that has not been sorted in years, a basement storage room that is full before the new decorations even arrive, or a parent’s house where several decades of holiday boxes need to be cleared.
That is where our residential junk removal team helps. We do the lifting, carrying and loading, protect your floors and walls on the way out, and sweep up when we are done. Our approach is white-glove from start to finish, and we sort items for donation and recycling when possible. Electronics go through our e-waste removal service so they are handled responsibly. Curious where it all ends up? Our post on where your junk goes after pickup explains the process.
If the decorations live in the attic, our guide to an attic cleanout before winter covers safe access and what to look for up there. If you are making room for guests, see our post on a spare room cleanout before the holidays. And if you are not sure what is worth giving away, our list of items to donate during a cleanout is a good place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put old Christmas lights in my recycling bin?
Light strands are not the kind of item curbside recycling is set up for, since they tangle in sorting equipment. A dedicated light recycling program is the better choice.
Will Canonsburg trash pickup take an artificial tree?
The borough collects one large bulk item per week through County Hauling. Call County Hauling at 724-929-7694 to confirm how a broken tree should be prepared.
Do you take decorations as part of a bigger cleanout?
Yes. Holiday décor, boxes, furniture and other household items can all go in the same visit. Tell us what you have when you call.
Do you serve areas outside Canonsburg?
Yes. We serve Canonsburg, Cecil, Peters Township, McMurray, Bridgeville, Bethel Park and the South Hills. Call to confirm your address.
Clear out the old décor before the holidays
Ready to make room before you decorate? Call Iron Bear & Co. at (724) 809-3998 or reach us through our contact page for a no-obligation estimate. We handle the heavy lifting, and we won’t leave your doorstep until you’re satisfied.
Sources: Canonsburg Borough, Recycling / Trash; Canonsburg Borough, Sewage / Garbage Contacts; Michael Brothers, Holiday Light Recycling Program update; Observer-Reporter, Pittsburgh business recycling old Christmas lights for charity; Washington County Recycling. Program details as of November 2026.