Live Thrive Atlanta is celebrating the fifth anniversary of one of its major initiatives, the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM), with a T-shirt design contest for kids.

Since it opened as Atlanta’s first permanent facility for recycling materials that are too bulky or harmful for the curb, CHaRM has diverted more than 540 million pounds of harmful materials from landfills and the water system. More than 100,000 visitors have stopped by the facility and its pop-up events in the last year.

To celebrate its own milestone as well as Earth Day’s 50th anniversary, CHaRM is hosting a Kid’s T-Shirt Design Contest online. Children are invited to submit their best designs commemorating the 50th Earth Day. The deadline for submissions is April 30. More information is available at LiveThrive.org/Kids-Recycle-Day.

One elementary school and one middle school winner will be chosen. Winners will receive 10 printed T-shirts, and the CHaRM staff will wear the chosen designs for the rest of the year. 

Last year, Live Thrive Atlanta’s permanent facility was bolstered by monthly pop-up recycling events in Buckhead and Chamblee-Brookhaven. CHaRM has also hosted corporate recycling events for Delta Air Lines, Chick-fil-A and Cox Enterprises.

CHaRM accepts hard-to-recycle products including glass, Styrofoam, paint, tires, electronics and even mattresses. In 2019, 94% of the materials collected at CHaRM were recycled, reused or re-engineered.

“We are thrilled with the overwhelming results we’ve seen at CHaRM and during our off-site events and look forward to driving individuals and companies toward zero-waste living,” says Peggy Whitlow-Ratcliffe, executive director and founder of Live Thrive Atlanta.

Note: Due to COVID-19, the CHaRM permanent facility is temporarily closed until further notice. However, Live Thrive Atlanta is accepting donations to help it continue its programs and support its staff. Donations can be made at LiveThrive.org.