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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 # 7 – “Bring hard-to-recycle items to a Rotary meeting for a bulk donation to CHARM”
By Salome Alvarez, Southern Sustainability Institute, Athens, GA
Email: Blog@sosuin.org

Are you a member of the Rotary Club and looking for ways to amplify your community impact? Here’s a perfect opportunity to combine service with sustainability. By bringing hard-to-recycle items to your next Rotary meeting, you can be part of a bulk donation to Athens-Clarke County’s CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials). Not only will you help reduce waste and protect the environment, but you’ll also foster a community-driven approach to sustainability that benefits everyone.

A Brief History of Rotary’s Environmental Commitment

The Rotary Club has a long-standing tradition of service, with projects focusing on everything from public health to education. In recent years, Rotary has also made environmental stewardship a priority, recognizing the need to protect our natural world. This global organization is committed to taking action on climate change, pollution reduction, and sustainable resource management. By organizing a bulk donation to CHaRM, your Rotary Club is actively contributing to a cleaner, greener future—right here in Athens.

The Importance of Bulk Donations to CHaRM

CHaRM plays a vital role in our community by accepting items that traditional recycling programs can’t handle, like electronics, chemicals, and Styrofoam. These materials, if not properly disposed of, can harm the environment. Organizing a bulk donation during a Rotary meeting maximizes your impact in several important ways:

1. Efficient Recycling: By collecting hard-to-recycle items in bulk, you help streamline the recycling process. CHaRM can process larger quantities of materials more efficiently, reducing transportation emissions and energy use.
2. Promote Group Action: Organizing a Rotary meeting collection empowers individuals to take part in a larger movement. What might seem like a small contribution—a few batteries, an old laptop—becomes part of a collective effort that makes a bigger difference.
3. Environmental Impact: Bulk donations help divert toxic materials, such as electronics and batteries, from landfills. These items can leak hazardous chemicals into the soil and water if improperly discarded. By collecting and donating in bulk, you’re contributing to cleaner air, water, and soil.
4. Community Leadership: As a Rotary Club, leading by example is at the core of your mission. By organizing a bulk donation for CHaRM, you’re showing your community how small, coordinated actions can result in significant environmental benefits.
5. Sustainability Awareness: Bulk donations also raise awareness about hard-to-recycle materials. As Rotarians bring in their items, it sparks conversations about sustainable living and encourages members to make better choices about what they consume and discard.

What You Can Bring to the Rotary Meeting for CHaRM

Here’s a quick look at what items you can gather for the next Rotary meeting, making them ready for a bulk donation to CHaRM:

• Electronics: Old cell phones, laptops, tablets, and small appliances.
• Batteries: Alkaline, rechargeable, car batteries, and more.
• Styrofoam: Packing peanuts, blocks, and other foam products.
• Light Bulbs: CFL bulbs, fluorescent tubes, and other light fixtures.
• Household Chemicals: Unused paint, cleaning supplies, pesticides.
• Plastics: Certain hard plastics and plastic films that can’t go into curbside recycling.
• Scrap Metal: Metal appliances, tools, and furniture.

For a complete list of accepted items, check the CHaRM guidelines. It’s a good idea to review this list before your Rotary meeting to make sure that all materials are eligible for donation.

How to Organize a Bulk Donation at Your Rotary Meeting

1. Plan Ahead: Set a date for the donation event and let your Rotary Club members know well in advance. You can send reminders leading up to the meeting, encouraging members to gather their hard-to-recycle items.
2. Create a Collection System: At the meeting, set up a designated area where members can drop off their items. Make sure you have labeled bins or boxes for different types of materials (electronics, batteries, etc.), so items are sorted and ready for CHaRM.
3. Make It Educational: Use this opportunity to educate your members about the importance of recycling hard-to-recycle materials. Share facts about how much waste Athens produces and the role CHaRM plays in reducing landfill waste. Highlight Rotary’s commitment to sustainability and how this donation supports that mission.
4. Deliver to CHaRM: Once you’ve collected all the items, designate a few volunteers to take the bulk donation to CHaRM. The center’s staff will guide you through the drop-off process, making it a smooth and efficient experience.
5. Celebrate the Impact: After the donation, take a moment to celebrate your Rotary Club’s contribution to the environment. Share the results with your club, noting how much waste was diverted from landfills and the positive environmental impact of the donation.

https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give

Why Bulk Donations Make a Bigger Impact

• Economy of Scale: The more you collect, the more efficient recycling becomes. CHaRM can process large quantities of materials in a single trip, saving time and energy.
• Stronger Community Bond: By coming together to collect and donate, your Rotary Club is building a sense of teamwork and community around sustainability.
• Environmental Leadership: Rotary Clubs are known for their leadership in service. Organizing a bulk donation shows your club’s dedication to both the community and the environment. This sets a powerful example for other organizations and groups in Athens to follow.

Rotary’s Global Focus on Environmental Sustainability

Rotary International has made environmental sustainability a top priority, recognizing that a healthy environment is key to all other areas of service, from clean water to health initiatives. By engaging in local recycling efforts like donating to CHaRM, your Rotary Club is aligning itself with a global movement that prioritizes the planet’s health.

This initiative is just one way Rotary Clubs are helping to lead the charge on climate action, responsible resource management, and waste reduction. Every piece of electronics or Styrofoam that your Rotary members recycle makes a measurable difference in protecting our environment.

Join the Movement: Bring Hard-to-Recycle Items to Your Next Rotary Meeting

As a Rotary member, you already know the power of collective action. By organizing and participating in a bulk donation to CHaRM, you’re contributing to something much bigger than yourself—safeguarding our environment for future generations. Let’s show Athens that Rotary is not only committed to serving the community but also to protecting our planet.

Start gathering those hard-to-recycle items, bring them to your next Rotary meeting, and be part of a bulk donation that makes a lasting impact. Together, we can make Athens cleaner, greener, and more sustainable!

Be Part of the Change: Take Action Today

Let’s take the next step as a Rotary Club and make recycling part of our service mission. Together, our bulk donation to CHaRM will help reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect the environment. Start gathering your hard-to-recycle items, bring them to the next meeting, and make a positive impact with every item donated!

Resources: 

https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give
https://georgia.un.org/en/take-action
https://www.accgov.com/5894/Hard-to-Recycle-Materials-CHaRM