Holidays 2012: Recycle Lights, Phones and Coats; Donate New Toys

Are you buying a new winter jacket? Do you have holiday lights that no longer work? Did your kids get duplicate toys this year? Did Santa bring you a new cell phone?

If you have items you’d like to toss but aren’t sure what to do with them, a number of collections are taking place in Montgomery County and items can be dropped off right at the Salvation Army at 18705 North Frederick Avenue in
Gaithersburg, MD. You can also drop off items at Goodwill of Greater Washington at 619 South Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg or 4816 Boiling Brook Parkway in Rockville. 

Have any unwrapped, unused toys? They can be donated to Toys for Tots in 2013.

If you have coats you no longer need, donations are being collected through many local churches.

Cell phones piling up because you have the newest and best that technology has to offer? Drop off used cells for Cell Phones for Soldiers at local Liberty Tax locations and a number of other places found here.

Have old holiday lights that no longer work? Maybe you switched colors or swapped old lights for LED ones? Whatever the reason, if you have lights that you're not hanging this year, they can be recycled at the Shady Grove Solid Waste Transfer Station. The station is located at 16101 Frederick Road in Derwood, MD.

Is your organization collecting donations this holiday season? Let us know. Leave a note in comments or e-mail Editor Sonia Dasgupta at sonia@patch.com