How to De-Clutter, Donate and Recycle in Atlanta

Here are some of my favorite recycling opportunities in Atlanta. I have taken advantage of each one and found the process to be seamless!

Paint Cans

You have to dispose of oil-based paint and solvents in a safe manor at a recycling facility or company.

Latex paint can be dried and disposed in the trash (check with your local trash collection vendor). If there’s only a small amount of paint in the bottom of your can, removing the lid and leaving it out in the sun should dry it quickly. If there’s a bit more than the sun can handle, try adding kitty litter or newspaper to help soak up the paint and speed the drying process.

All kinds of paints and solvents can also dropped off at one of Atlanta Paint Disposal’s drop off locations or schedule a pick up. They will recycle and donate paint.

 

Electronics

Take your old tvs and other electronics to any Best Buy store. Click here for more details and FAQs.

 

Fabric and Clothing

re:loom is a program of Initiative for Affordable Housing (IAH), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in Decatur. It’s mission is to provide permanent, affordable housing to homeless and low-income families in metro Atlanta, and more fundamentally, empower people to achieve independence. Weavers design and produce handmade products and lead a team of weavehouse volunteers. With a stable salary, 100% healthcare coverage, and opportunities to engage in the operation of the weavehouse, employees gain a financial foundation, leadership skills, and a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Click here to learn more about how to donate fabric and clothing to this wonderful cause.

Furniture

In recent years, the Furniture Bank provided furniture to more than 4,000 people in need. Every piece we gave away was donated. Arranging a pick up is easy and so helpful to families making the transition out of homelessness. To learn more about the Furniture Bank click here. To arrange a pick up click here.

Leftover home improvement supplies

Habitat for Humanity affiliates operate ReStores, which sell reusable and surplus building materials, furniture and appliances to the public. The proceeds fund local Habitat house construction. Cleaning out, down-sizing or just getting organized? Habitat for Humanity ReStore can help you declutter your home. We put the proceeds from selling your donations to good use by building homes and hope in your community and around the world. Though each Habitat ReStore is unique, most accept donations of household goods, furniture, appliances and building materials. Click donate to ReStore for the closest ReStore and more information on how to donate.

Miscellaneous Hard to Recycle Items

Atlanta’s CHArM facility recycles just about everything! CHaRM stands for The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials. It is a permanent drop-off facility that aims to improve our environmental health by encouraging reuse and diverting thousands of pounds of household hazardous waste, bulky trash and other hard to recycle items from Metro-Atlanta landfills and water systems. See my previous post on what they will accept.