BUTTE, Mont. (NMB) – NorthWestern Energy is replacing 43,000 streetlights across Montana with efficient LED lights. A press release says that part of that project includes recycling the old high-pressure sodium streetlights.
NorthWestern Energy is working with Four Corners Recycling in Bozeman. They will recycle all parts of the old lights, including the metal heads, the glass lenses and the bulbs, some of which contain mercury.
Streetlight replacement and recycling is taking place in Billings and Helena. Next year, streetlights in Butte, Bozeman, Missoula and Havre will be replaced and recycled. In 2021, the project will move to Great Falls.
The recycling project will cost $120,000, or $2.90 a fixture.
