Fulton County Citizens Commission on the Environment (FCCCE) meets monthly to discuss environmental issues affecting the community and actions that can be taken to promote sustainability. This February the group held their meeting at ChaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) and went on a guided tour of the facility.

ChaRM is run by the non-profit Live Thrive, which empowers community members and organizations to make a positive impact on the environment. CHaRM is currently located a few blocks south of Grant Park and has plans to open additional locations in the future. Community members can bring hazardous materials to the CHaRM drop-off center to ensure they are properly disposed of. The center also accepts hard to recycle materials and regular single stream recyclables for those without recycling access. Drop-offs can be scheduled by appointment on the organization’s website: https://livethrive.org/charm/.

While touring the facility, FCCCE learned about the challenges affecting the recycling industry and the creative approaches CHaRM has taken to find markets for hard to recycle materials. For example, old paint is being donated to artists, musical instruments are being refurbished for children, cooking oil is being used for biofuel, and Styrofoam is being repurposed as building insulation. The center also runs the CHaRM Corporate Challenge, which partners with Atlanta-based organizations to promote recycling. In 2023, the challenge diverted nearly 140,000 pounds of material from landfills.