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CBS Atlanta Visits CHaRM to Talk Holiday Recycling
Recently, Alexa Liacko with CBS Atlanta stopped by CHaRM to talk with our Executive Director, Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe, about Christmas tree recycling and what happens to trees after the holidays.
In the interview, Peggy shares how live Christmas trees collected at CHaRM are chipped and reused, helping divert materials from landfills and waterways while giving trees a second life.
There’s still time to drop off your live Christmas tree at either CHaRM location. While you’re here, you can also bring leftover holiday materials like lights, electronics, and other hard-to-recycle items.
🎥 Watch the full interview below and make your appointment to recycle properly at CHaRM.
Styrofoam Recycling at CHaRM: What You Need to Know
https://youtube.com/shorts/xWfxg9clSzQ?feature=share
Styrofoam is a lightweight plastic made from expanded polystyrene. While it doesn’t weigh much, it takes up a lot of space and never biodegrades once it reaches a landfill, remaining there for hundreds or even thousands of years.
At CHaRM, we offer a responsible recycling option for Styrofoam. We accept food-grade Styrofoam, such as cups, trays, and takeout containers, as well as packing Styrofoam used to protect items like electronics, appliances, furniture, and coolers.
To be recycled, Styrofoam must be clean, dry, and free from contamination like food, liquids, or tape. Black Styrofoam is not accepted because it contains a pigment that prevents it from being processed with other material.
Using our on-site Styrofoam densifier, we press the air out of the material and compress it into dense blocks. These blocks are sent to Georgia Recycle Solutions, where they are used to create new plastic products such as insulation and building materials.
Styrofoam does not belong in single-stream recycling. Make your appointment and recycle it properly at CHaRM.
Christmas Trees and Holiday Materials at CHaRM
If you’re looking to give your Christmas tree another life after the holiday season, bring it to CHaRM!
CHaRM is an official Bring One for the Chipper collection site, a program of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. From Saturday, December 27 through Saturday, January 24, you can bring your live Christmas trees to either CHaRM location.
Once collected, real trees are chipped and turned into mulch that’s used for parks, playgrounds, and city and county landscaping projects. Some trees are even placed in lakes to help create fish habitats—giving your tree a meaningful second purpose.
Before You Drop Off Your Tree
Please make sure your live tree is completely bare. Remove all decorations, lights, tinsel, tree stands, and any other attachments before bringing it to CHaRM.
More Than Just Trees
During the live Christmas tree collection period, CHaRM will also accept:
Artificial Christmas trees
Old holiday lights
Electronics
Gift wrap and holiday packaging
Any other materials listed on our Items We Accept page
If the holidays left you with a pile of materials you’re not sure what to do with, CHaRM is here to help.
Skip the curb this season and give your tree—and other holiday materials—a responsible next step. Make your CHaRM appointment today.
Recycling Electronics at CHaRM: What You Need to Know
From worn-out holiday lights to old computers and appliances, electronics are some of the most important materials to recycle properly—and CHaRM is here to help.
As a general rule, if it needs electricity or a battery to work, it counts as electronics. When you arrive at CHaRM, you’ll head to the electronics station, where sorting baskets and clear signage make the process simple. Sort what you can, and our team will assist with the rest.
Electronics contain valuable materials that can be recovered and reused, along with hazardous components that must be handled responsibly. That’s why we partner with Novus Solutions to securely process electronics and protect your data, and SA Recycling to ensure appliances are safely dismantled and recycled.
Recycle electronics the right way this season—keep resources in use and harmful materials out of the environment. Make your CHaRM appointment today.
Understanding Plastics #1 and #2: What to Know Before You Recycle
Plastics are one of the most common materials we receive questions about, so this week we’re taking a closer look at two of the most valuable types you can recycle: #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE). These plastics can go straight into your single-stream recycling at home, work, or school — and of course, they’re accepted at CHaRM.
When you arrive at CHaRM, you’ll sort your plastics in “Plasticville,” where signs and staff help guide you through each category. Most plastic items include a resin code — that small number inside a triangle — which tells you what type of plastic the item is made from. This number helps determine where it belongs in the recycling process. Watch the full video for more information.
Thank you to the Atlanta Business Chronicle for including our Founder and Executive Director, Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe, in their recent story about Live Thrive’s partnership with Atlanta Housing to bring a new CHaRM facility to the Bowen Homes redevelopment.
We appreciate the opportunity to share how this collaboration supports Live Thrive’s mission and strengthens our work to divert materials from Atlanta’s landfills and waterways.
Sustainable Gift Wrap Guide for the Holidays
It’s officially gift-wrapping season, and we’re here to help you celebrate sustainably. Whether you’re giving or receiving gifts, here’s your guide to handling gift wrap after the unwrapping is done—and how to divert materials from landfills and waterways this holiday season. Screenshot this guide and keep it handy all month long!
Reuse First
Whenever possible, start with reuse. Most of what we use for wrapping—bags, boxes, tissue, ribbons, and many types of paper—can be used again if you take care of them. It’s the most sustainable option and extends the life of materials already in circulation.
What You Can Recycle
Your wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift boxes, paper bags, and cardboard tubes without glitter, foil, or metallic finishes can all be recycled with your other paper products. These items can go in your home, work, or school single-stream recycling, or you can bring them to CHaRM. Be sure to remove as much tape as possible before recycling.
All paper products dropped at CHaRM are baled on-site and sent to Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in sustainable paper-based packaging, where they’re transformed into new paper products.
What You Can Compost
Paper materials that don’t have glossy coatings, glitter, or metallic finishes can also be composted. This includes plain wrapping paper, tissue paper, and cardboard elements.
What You Should Reuse Only
Ribbons, bows, and any glittery or metallic materials don’t have value in recycling or composting. The best choice is to reuse them again and again.
Celebrate sustainably this holiday season by reusing, recycling, and composting what you can. We’ll see you at CHaRM soon!
Outkast’s Stankonia 25 + Live Thrive: Electronics Recycling Drive
#Stankonia25 showed up all across Atlanta—from roller-skating events to community gatherings—and we were glad to support the celebration as the electronics recycling outlet.
In just three hours, visitors brought 854 pounds of electronics to CHaRM Atlanta, all responsibly managed to help divert materials from landfills and waterways.
Thank you to Sony Music for involving Live Thrive and helping spotlight recycling in our community.
Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe Featured in Georgia Trend Magazine
We’re excited to share that Live Thrive’s founder and executive director, Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe, was recently featured in the October 2025 issue of Georgia Trend Magazine!
In the magazine’s “Catching Up With…” series, Peggy reflects on the inspiration behind starting Live Thrive and opening Atlanta’s first Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM). The story highlights her lifelong passion for helping people find safe, sustainable solutions for everyday materials — and how Live Thrive continues to grow its impact through education, access, and collaboration.
In the interview, Peggy shares how Live Thrive’s work supports both environmental and economic growth in Georgia through recycling, reuse, and circular economy efforts. She also discusses Live Thrive’s commitment to community engagement — from supporting local schools through STE(A)M education programs to partnering with Atlanta Housing on the upcoming Bowen Homes project, which will include a new CHaRM facility and education center.
We’re grateful to Georgia Trend for recognizing Peggy’s leadership and for sharing Live Thrive’s story with readers across Georgia.
Recycle Your Holiday Cooking Oil and Grease at CHaRM
The holiday season is almost here—and after all that delicious cooking, frying, and feasting, you might find yourself with leftover oil and grease. Whether you’re deep-frying a turkey or clearing out expired oil from your pantry, CHaRM is here to help you recycle it responsibly.
When you drop off your used cooking oil and grease at CHaRM, it’s collected by Southern Green Industries, who transform it into biodiesel—a cleaner, renewable fuel that directly replaces petroleum diesel. You can even check out a step-by-step of their process on the Southern Green website to see how your simple action contributes to a sustainable energy cycle.
Here’s how it works when you arrive at CHaRM:
You’ll pour your oil and grease directly into the collection container on site.
The container you bring it in will need to be cleaned at home before recycling, so we recommend using a glass or metal container to make cleanup easier.
Keep your oil and grease out of your pipes and out of the landfill this holiday season—bring it to CHaRM instead!