Recycling your non-working Christmas Lights

Island Recycling in Freeland recycles Christmas Lights! Such good news. So does Lowe's! I have not found a way to fix the 1/2 strand of lights that won't light. Has anyone else? I am tired of this happening and don't want to just throw them away and get new ones every other year. I am considering going back to the old style bigger set, where you unscrewed the burnt out bulb, and screwed in a new one. Tricks or thoughts? 

Shelly Ackerman