Merry Mulch
Howard County government offers free Christmas tree recycling options in its Merry Mulch program. Through Jan. 16, Christmas trees can be dropped off from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week at the sites listed below to be mulched, with the exception of the Alpha Ridge Landfill, which is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
•Kendall Hardware, 12260 Route 108, Clarksville
•River Hill Garden Center, 12165 Route 108, Clarksville
•Cedar Lane Park, 5081 Cedar Lane, Columbia
•Grandfather's Garden Center, 5320 Phelps Luck Drive, Columbia
•Rockburn Park, 5400 Landing Road, Elkridge
•Small Circuit Court parking lot on upper Court House Drive, Ellicott City
•Schooley Mill Park, 12975 Hall Shop Road, Highland
•Alpha Ridge Landfill Wood Waste Area, 2350 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville.
•Savage Park, 8400 Fair St., Savage
•Western Regional Park, 14800 Carrs Mill Road, Woodbine
Howard County residents with curbside yard trim collection can also set their trees out by the curb for collection.
Recycling electronics
The Howard County Bureau of Environmental Services reminds residents to recycle electronic devices. Drop-off locations include the Alpha Ridge Landfill Residents' Convenience Area, 2350 Marriottsville Road. The facility is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and accepts televisions, computers, keyboards, printers, scanners, laptops, VCRs, radios and other electronics. Also, Best Buy's Customer Take-Back Program allows customers to bring in old TVs (32 inches or smaller) at no charge. The offer is limited to two televisions per person per day. Console televisions are not accepted.
Kindred Spirits
The social club for people diagnosed with early memory loss or dementia meets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the 50+ Center at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2700 Route 97 in Cooksville. Highlights include therapeutic activities, including music, art and exercise, as well as a support group. A daily fee of $30 includes snacks, lunch, coffee and tea. The program is sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Maryland. Information: Judy Miller at 410-313-5441 or email jumiller@howardcountymd.gov.
Recycling cans
Habitat for Humanity and the Boy Scouts of America have placed a collection bin for aluminum cans at the entrance to the parking lot of Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, 6410 Amherst Ave., in Allview Estates. Information: 410-997-4949.