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The Classic City Rotary of Athens  Eco Passport is a year-long initiative to encourage members to engage in eco-friendly activities and promote environmental awareness. Members earn points by completing various sustainable actions, such as recycling, composting, attending environmental talks, and participating in service projects. ECORotary@sosuin.org

Eco Passport Item # 6 – “Take a donation to Charm”
By Salome Alvarez, Southern Sustainability Institute, Athens, GA
Email: Blog@sosuin.org

Looking to recycle items that can’t go in your curbside bin? Athens-Clarke County has the perfect solution—CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials). This local resource makes it easy to donate or dispose of items that don’t fit the usual recycling mold, ensuring that materials are handled responsibly. By donating to CHaRM, you’re helping Athens reduce waste, recycle more, and support a sustainable future.

A Brief History of CHaRM

The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) was founded to tackle the growing challenge of dealing with items that are tough to recycle. Traditional recycling programs weren’t equipped to handle certain materials—think electronics, household chemicals, and even Styrofoam. As environmental awareness grew, so did the need for a dedicated facility that could safely process these items. CHaRM centers, which have popped up in eco-conscious communities like Athens, provide a place for residents to recycle responsibly and safely.

In Athens, CHaRM is a vital part of the city’s waste diversion strategy. Since its establishment, the center has helped keep countless tons of hard-to-recycle items out of landfills, all while making it easier for residents to do their part in protecting the planet.

Why CHaRM Matters: Reducing Waste, Protecting the Environment

1. Handle Difficult Materials: Some items, like electronics, paint, and certain plastics, are hard to recycle through regular curbside programs. CHaRM provides a specialized facility where these materials can be safely and responsibly processed, ensuring they don’t end up in landfills or harm the environment.
2. Support a Circular Economy: Many items that people discard still have value. By donating them to CHaRM, you’re giving these materials a second life, either through recycling or repurposing. This helps conserve resources and supports a circular economy where items are reused instead of thrown away.
3. Divert Toxic Waste from Landfills: Electronics, batteries, and household chemicals contain hazardous materials that can leak into the soil and water if sent to landfills. CHaRM ensures these toxic items are handled correctly, protecting Athens’ local environment from contamination.
4. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: When you donate or recycle items at CHaRM, you’re helping reduce the need for raw materials, which cuts down on energy use and carbon emissions. Recycling old electronics, for example, reduces the demand for mining and processing raw materials, which has significant environmental benefits.
5. Boost Community Sustainability: Athens has long been known for its commitment to sustainability, and CHaRM is a key part of this mission. By donating and recycling at CHaRM, you’re contributing to Athens’ efforts to be a green, sustainable city that values its natural resources and strives for a zero-waste future.

What You Can Donate to CHaRM

CHaRM is designed to accept a wide range of hard-to-recycle items. Here are just a few of the materials you can donate:

• Electronics: Old phones, laptops, chargers, and other electronic devices.
• Styrofoam: Packing peanuts, Styrofoam blocks, and other foam products.
• Household Chemicals: Paint, cleaning supplies, pesticides, and other household chemicals.
• Batteries: Alkaline, rechargeable, car batteries, and more.
• Fluorescent Bulbs: Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) and tubes.
• Textiles: Usable clothing, linens, and fabrics.
• Scrap Metal: Old appliances, metal furniture, and more.

You can even donate items like books, plastic film, and certain types of plastics that aren’t accepted in curbside bins. For a complete list of acceptable items, visit the Athens-Clarke County CHaRM website.

How to Donate to CHaRM in Athens, GA

1. Gather Your Items: Take stock of the hard-to-recycle materials around your home, like electronics, Styrofoam, old batteries, or household chemicals. Separate these items from your usual recycling to prepare for donation.
2. Check the Guidelines: Not all items are accepted at CHaRM, so be sure to check the official guidelines to make sure what you’re donating is allowed. Some items may require a small fee for safe disposal, especially hazardous materials like paint or chemicals.
3. Drop It Off: Bring your items to CHaRM at 1005 College Avenue, Athens, GA. The facility has designated drop-off areas for different materials, making it easy to navigate where everything should go. The staff is always ready to assist you with your donation.
4. Feel Good About It: By donating to CHaRM, you’re helping Athens reduce waste, recycle responsibly, and protect the environment. Knowing that your items are being disposed of or reused properly is a great feeling!

Why Donating to CHaRM Is the Best Choice

• Environmental Protection: Hazardous materials and electronics contain harmful substances that can damage ecosystems if they aren’t recycled properly. Donating to CHaRM ensures these items are handled with care, protecting the environment from contamination.
• Convenience: CHaRM makes it simple to drop off items that would otherwise be difficult to recycle, saving you the hassle of figuring out where to take them.
• Community Impact: By donating to CHaRM, you’re contributing to the community-wide effort to reduce waste and live more sustainably. Athens relies on facilities like CHaRM to achieve its sustainability goals, and your donations help make that possible.

CHaRM: A Model for Responsible Recycling

CHaRM isn’t just about reducing waste; it’s about educating and empowering the Athens community to make smarter choices for the environment. The facility serves as a hub for recycling, waste diversion, and sustainability, showcasing how communities can come together to address hard-to-recycle materials in an eco-friendly way.

Athens is one of many cities across the U.S. to embrace the CHaRM model, and its success is a testament to the power of local action. By supporting CHaRM, Athens residents are helping shape a greener future, one that reduces waste, conserves resources, and protects the planet for future generations.

Take the Next Step: Donate to CHaRM Today Ready to make a positive impact? Gather your hard-to-recycle items and head to CHaRM today. Every donation counts, whether it’s a small box of batteries or a truckload of electronics. Let’s work together to keep Athens beautiful, green, and waste-free. With your help, we can protect the environment and create a sustainable future for all!

Resources:
https://accgov.com/11060/CHaRM-x-UGA
https://www.accgov.com/5894/Hard-to-Recycle-Materials-CHaRM