What happens to your CHaRM materials?

Children's books in good condition are distributed to Boulder County nonprofits to give to their clients. Other books of value are sold for reuse. For the remaining books, the spine is sheared off and the paper is recycled.

All electronic equipment is sent to our certified e-Stewards recycler for processing into raw materials for new manufacturing. Hard drives are shredded for data destruction by our processor and recycled locally as scrap metal. No local electronics reuse options currently meet the e-Stewards standards, but we continue to evaluate the reuse potential of the equipment we receive for possible future projects.

Plastic bags are being processed and marketed to companies that produce the leading alternative to wood decks by using recycled plastic bags, stretch wrap from businesses, and wood waste such as wood chips, shavings, and sawdust. 

Ink jet and laser printer cartridges are sent to a company that is able to refurbish and refill most brands. Those that are not reusable are recycled when possible. 

Textiles brought to the CHaRM facility will be reused whenever possible, with much of them going to African communities in need. Materials that can’t be reused will be recycled as rags. A good method to determine whether the CHaRM will accept your textile item is to ask yourself whether it could be made into a rag (with the exception of underwear, socks and shoes). 

 

Shoes that are worn beyond reuse are turned into a material used to resurface athletic fields, tracks and playgrounds. 

 

Block foam packaging is sent to a polystyrene recycler who uses it to make products like CD cases, light switches and cover plates, and other household items made from polystyrene. Rigid foam insulation is turned into new rigid foam insulation for building foundations. 

 

After the retardant is safely discharged, the metal cylinders are recycled. 

 

Cooking oil is used by a local manufacturer in the creation of biodiesel. 

 

Your big durable #2 plastics will be responsibly recycled in the U.S. and made into recycled plastic railroad ties. This very durable, long-lasting product can be used in place of virgin hardwood lumber railroad ties injected with creosote. Hardwood lumber takes a very long time to regrow, and creosote contains several toxic and carcinogenic chemicals, which can leach into the environment through contact with soil or water.

 

These porcelain materials will be sent to a company that grinds up old concrete into a material that can be used in place of gravel road base in road construction projects.

 

The yoga mats we collect will be used as “textile” material for local companies to make new products like messenger bags, laptop covers, and totes.