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CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)
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ACC Leaf & Limb crews will finish Area A and start collection in Area B the week of Monday Mar. 20th
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ACC Leaf & Limb Collection Area Change Effective the week of Monday April 3rd, 2023
Effective the week of Monday April 3rd, 2023. In an effort to keep leaf and limb on a six week rotation consistently, we need to move the following streets to Area D. They are currently in Area B for leaf and limb pick up. Read on...
About CHaRM
The Athens-Clarke County Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is a one-stop drop for items that can’t be recycled at the curb or at the ACC recycling drop-off sites due to their chemical composition, hazardous components, size, shape, etc. These materials will be collected at the CHaRM for reuse, recycling and in rare cases, safe disposal. CHaRM is open to anyone, even if you do not reside in Athens.
Attention CHaRM Customers:
The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) will be temporarily closed June 12-18 for cleaning and facility maintenance.
Hours
Tuesday 10 AM - 7 PM
Wednesday 10 AM - 7 PM
Saturday 8 AM - Noon
No appointment needed.
NOTE: CHaRM will close during extreme weather events such as extreme heat, tornados, or lightning. All closings will be announced here and through social media.
View our Holiday Schedule
Location
recycle@accgov.com
*No fees required for ACC customers with loads exclusively consisting of:
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Learn about our Teacher Reuse Store for donating school supplies to teachers.
Items accepted and fees
NO CASH: only check or major credit card accepted (no American Express)
$3/ trip facility fee for businesses and residents of Athens-Clarke County
$8/ trip facility fee for businesses and residents outside Athens-Clarke County
- Facility fee covers all items listed below except the items noted by $. These items require an additional fee to cover the processing fee.
- No facility fee is required for items marked * for ACC residents.
- Proof of residency can include government-issued identification, student ID, or utility bill.
- Accepted forms of payment: check or major credit card (no cash, no American Express)
Appliances and Tools (indoor and outdoor)
$ Automotive fluids (no fuels)
Balls – Golf balls; Tennis balls and canisters
$ Batteries (all types; $0.50/pound; car batteries $1 each)
Bicycles
Books (hardcover and paperback)
Cell phones, tablets, gaming systems
$ Cleaners/chemicals/fertilizers ($5/gallon)
Clothing & textiles (sheets, pillows, cloth, etc.)
$ Computer monitors/screens ($5 each)
Corks (synthetic or natural)
$ Dangerous chemicals requiring separate Lab Pack handling ($10 per gallon)
$ Documents for shredding – ($2/ banker’s box- 10“ x 12" x 15")
* Donations for Teacher Reuse Store
Electronics & cords/cables
Expired/used gift cards
Eyeglasses
* Food Scraps (Residential Only- 24/7 drop-off outside the fence off Cleveland Ave)
Fire extinguishers
Glass (automotive, windows, glass doors, plates, beverage glass)
Glass dishes, plates, beverage glass
Grease (used cooking grease/oil)
Helium, HVAC, & Camping Size Propane Tanks
Ink cartridges
$ Light bulbs/tubes ($0.50 each)
$ Mattresses & box springs ($10 each)
$ Media (CDs, DVDs, VHS, Tapes, etc.; $0.50 per pound)
Mercury-containing devices
Motor oil filters
* Mixed recyclables (bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, etc.)
Musical instruments
$ Paint ($2/gallon container)
Pallets (wooden or plastic, damaged or intact)
Plastic bags/wrap (plastic bags, stretch film, bubble wrap)
$ Propane tanks (20# or larger; $5 each, smaller; included with facility fee)
* Scrap Metal
$ Sharps/syringes ($5 per container; in a bleach or detergent bottle, residential only)
Shoes (wearable only)
Shredded paper
Styrofoam (CLEAN, NO TAPE)
$ Televisions (any size; $5 each)
$ Tires ($3.00/ tire; $10/oversize tire or on rim )
U.S. flags for patriotic retirement at VFW
Commercial CHaRM Customers:
Must make an appointment with Household Hazardous Waste Supervisor at 706-296-7832 for delivery. Materials will be fee-based.
History
Prior to the opening of CHaRM, hard to recycle materials and hazardous waste were collected during scheduled events throughout the year by the Solid Waste Department. A CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) is a one stop drop for items that can’t be recycled at the curb or at the Athens-Clarke County recycling drop-off sites because they are deemed "hard to recycle" due to their nature (chemical composition, hazardous components, size, distance to end-market, etc.). The first CHaRM in the United States was established in Boulder, Colorado and opened in 2001. Funding for the Athens-Clarke County CHaRM was made possible through the approval of the 2011 SPLOST. This funding provided improvements to the old Solid Waste Department location at 1005 College Avenue as well as much needed equipment for processing. The new CHaRM facility opened on November 9, 2015 which allowed for customers to bring hazardous and hard to recycle materials year round. Purchase of equipment as outlined in the Project Concept continues to be purchased as the facility continues to expand and take additional recyclable materials.