Atlanta CHaRM & Multifamily Recycling Operations Guide
This guide helps Atlanta apartment residents and property teams identify City-published recycling requirements and current Live Thrive CHaRM drop-off options for electronics, paint, batteries, glass, mattresses, tires and other qualifying hard-to-recycle materials. CHaRM is a nonprofit-operated, City-recommended supplemental facility; it does not replace an Atlanta apartment owner’s on-site recycling, container-capacity, collection-contract or reporting duties under City Code §130-38. [1][2][3]
Atlanta Multifamily Mandate:
Owners of multifamily dwellings, including public housing, and owners’ associations of condominiums or townhouses containing six or more living units must furnish commercial recycling containers.
Total container capacity must be at least three gallons multiplied by the number of living units.
The program must collect at least the materials in Atlanta’s curbside recycling program, including glass, plastics, newspapers and aluminum cans.
Owners or managers must arrange private collection and report recycling tonnage through the City process.
[3][4]
Apartment Property-Management Load Rule:
Property employees, porters and vendors transporting pooled resident material, abandoned paint, office electronics, maintenance chemicals or contractor-generated waste should not use a resident appointment automatically.
CHaRM requires businesses to register before booking, and business pricing and acceptance rules differ from resident rules.
Confirm the correct appointment type, material eligibility, quantity and fee before transportation.
[1][5]
CHaRM Atlanta — Appointment-Only Supplemental Drop-Off
CHaRM Atlanta accepts many qualifying hard-to-recycle materials, but every category has its own preparation, fee, quantity and resident-versus-business rules. Only materials listed on Live Thrive’s current acceptance page should be brought to the facility. [1][2]
- Facility: CHaRM Atlanta, operated by Live Thrive[1]
- Address: 1110 Hill Street SE, Atlanta, GA 30315[1]
- Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM | Saturday: 8:00 AM–2:00 PM[1]
- Appointment: Required for every visit. Use the Live Thrive app or web booking system.[1]
- Business Registration: Businesses must register before booking an appointment.[5]
- Closures: Review Live Thrive’s current booking page for announced closure dates before travel.[5]
Materials, Fees & Important Exclusions
CHaRM accepts specified electronics, latex and oil-based paint, aerosol paint, certain household chemicals, qualifying batteries, food-grade glass, clean flat glass, mattresses, car and bicycle tires and other listed materials. Acceptance is not universal, and location-specific restrictions apply. [2]
- Electronics: Resident televisions and monitors are currently $25 each; other listed resident electronics are accepted without a fee. Business televisions and monitors are $25 each, with other business electronics currently charged by weight.[2]
- Paint & Chemicals: Paint and household chemicals are weighed together. Resident pricing begins after the first 20 pounds and increases by weight tier; business pricing is currently $1 per pound.[2]
- Mattresses: Dry, acceptable mattresses and box springs are charged by size. Crib mattresses, futons, foam toppers, air mattresses, memory-foam-only mattresses, excessively soiled items and bug-infested items are excluded.[2]
- Tires: Car and bicycle tires without rims are accepted for a fee. Truck tires and tires with rims are excluded.[2]
- Propane: Propane tanks of any size are currently not accepted.[2]
- Location Limits: Certain categories are available only at CHaRM DeKalb. Confirm the Atlanta-location list when booking.[2]
Fee Review Date: The examples on this page were reviewed on August 5, 2026. CHaRM may revise fees, categories, limits and location availability. Confirm all charges when booking.
Electronics & Battery Controls
CHaRM accepts qualifying electronics and certain battery chemistries.
Current listed batteries include button, nickel-metal hydride, lithium, carbon-zinc, nickel-cadmium and rechargeable batteries.
Tape all exposed battery terminals and wires before drop-off.
[2]
CHaRM’s current Atlanta acceptance list does not accept alkaline batteries or automotive batteries.
Do not place lithium or rechargeable batteries or devices containing them in the property’s ordinary recycling stream unless the contracted provider expressly accepts them.
[2]
Paint & Household Chemicals
CHaRM accepts listed latex, oil-based and aerosol paints, together with specified household chemicals.
Chemicals must remain in their original containers.
CHaRM does not accept industrial or laboratory chemicals, unknown materials or chemicals in containers of five gallons or more.
[2]
Apartment management should obtain the correct business registration and appointment for maintenance paint, office chemicals, pooled resident material and contractor-generated waste.
Never combine unidentified chemicals or transfer them into unmarked containers.
Food-Grade & Flat Glass — Separate CHaRM Streams
Food-Grade Glass:
CHaRM accepts rinsed and dried food-grade bottles and jars.
Color sorting is no longer required.
Remove caps and tops and place them in the appropriate on-site material station.
Resident food-grade glass currently has no fee; business glass is charged by weight.
[2]
Flat Glass:
Clean window plate, glass tables, shower-door glass, glass office dividers, vehicle windows, microwave turntable glass and drinkware may be accepted in the flat-glass stream.
Mirrors, porcelain, ceramic, china and Pyrex are excluded.
[2]
Glass Does Not Become Optional:
Atlanta’s multifamily ordinance includes glass among the minimum materials the property’s recycling program must collect.
If the current recycling provider does not accept glass, management should obtain a service arrangement that satisfies the City requirement or request written guidance from the City.
Resident self-haul to CHaRM or a private purple-bin network is only a supplemental convenience and does not replace required on-site service.
[3][4]
Atlanta Multifamily Recycling Requirements — Six or More Units
Qualifying property owners and associations must provide commercial recycling containers and arrange private recycling collection for all building locations.
Containers must be clearly marked and provide capacity of at least three gallons multiplied by the number of living units.
Collection frequency must be sufficient to prevent overflow and maintain usable capacity.
[3][4]
The property must report recycling tonnage and program information through the City’s reporting process.
The City portal requests property, unit, service-provider, container, collection-frequency and tonnage information.
When a violation is identified, the portal states that the Commissioner of Public Works may issue written notice providing 90 business days to abate the violation before further enforcement.
[4]
Resident Concern Process:
Residents should first notify property management when required recycling containers or service appear to be missing.
For current enforcement or reporting guidance, contact ATL311 or the City multifamily-recycling contact identified on the current ATL311 and Public Works pages.
A report does not automatically establish a violation or guarantee a particular enforcement outcome.
Apartment & Rental-Property Bulk Waste
Atlanta’s scheduled bulk service is designed for qualifying single-family residential customers.
The current City guidance states that bulk collection is not available for material from rental properties, business operations, manufacturing, new construction or demolition.
[6]
Apartment management should use the property’s approved commercial bulk vendor, roll-off provider, scheduled property collection event or other lawful disposal method.
Do not direct residents to place furniture, mattresses, electronics, paint or construction debris at the curb.
The City’s single-family program also excludes electronics and household hazardous waste.
[6]
Private Supplemental Glass Network
Ripple Glass operates a private purple-bin glass drop-off network in the Atlanta region and lists CHaRM as a participating location. Confirm the current bin location, hours and accepted-container rules before travel. Use of a private glass drop-off does not replace an Atlanta multifamily owner’s required on-site recycling program. [7]
Apartment Property-Manager Operating Checklist
- Confirm Atlanta Jurisdiction: Verify that the parcel is inside City of Atlanta limits before applying §130-38.
- Verify the Six-Unit Trigger: Document the number of living units, including condominium, townhouse and public-housing configurations.
- Calculate Container Capacity: Maintain at least three gallons of recycling-container capacity multiplied by the number of living units. Do not add “per week” to the statutory formula.
- Verify Minimum Materials: Confirm that the contracted recycler accepts glass, plastics, newspapers and aluminum cans at minimum.
- Maintain Private Collection: Keep the recycling contract, container inventory, collection frequency and contamination terms current.
- Submit City Reporting: Retain hauler tonnage records and City reporting-portal confirmations.
- Separate CHaRM Appointment Types: Residents may use resident appointments for eligible personal material; property loads should use the appropriate business registration and pricing.
- Control Chemicals: Keep chemicals in original containers and reject unknown, leaking, mixed or oversized containers pending professional guidance.
- Control Batteries: Tape accepted battery terminals and keep alkaline, automotive and unverified batteries out of CHaRM loads.
- Publish a Glass Procedure: Maintain required on-site glass service and describe CHaRM or purple bins only as supplemental options.
- Publish a Bulk Procedure: Use the approved commercial property pathway rather than the City’s single-family curbside program.
- Limit Valet Scope: Doorstep collection should ordinarily transfer tied resident waste to the property’s approved on-site container unless off-site authority is verified.
- Retain Documentation: Keep service agreements, CHaRM appointments, business registration, receipts, resident notices, photographs, tonnage reports and corrective-action records.
Operational Notice: CHaRM hours, closure dates, accepted materials, location restrictions, fees and preparation rules may change. Atlanta’s reporting and enforcement procedures may also change. Confirm current requirements before transportation or publication. This page provides general operational information and is not legal advice, a regulatory certification, a government endorsement of a private program or a guarantee that a particular item, quantity, resident load or business load will be accepted.
Government, Program & Technical Sources: [1] Live Thrive CHaRM — Atlanta location, current hours and appointment requirement | [2] Live Thrive Items CHaRM Accepts — current materials, exclusions, preparation and fees | [3] ATL311 Multifamily Buildings Recycling Initiative — six-unit threshold and minimum materials | [4] City of Atlanta Multifamily Recycling — owner duties, private service and reporting | [5] Live Thrive Appointment Booking — appointment process, closures and business registration | [6] City of Atlanta Bulk Waste Collection — single-family eligibility, rental-property exclusion and prohibited materials | [7] Ripple Glass Atlanta — private purple-bin locator and program information | [8] City of Atlanta Recycling Reporting Portal — program data and 90-business-day notice process
Atlanta Multifamily Recycling Requirements & Property-Manager Guide
Atlanta property owners and community managers: National Doorstep’s valet recycling service can support resident collection and education as one component of a property’s broader recycling program. The property remains responsible for satisfying the City of Atlanta multifamily recycling requirements in City Code §130-38, including required containers, adequate capacity, minimum materials, private collection service and City reporting.
Inside the incorporated City of Atlanta, recycling is mandatory for qualifying multifamily dwellings—including public housing—and for condominium or townhouse owners’ associations containing six or more living units. Owners or associations must furnish clearly marked commercial recycling containers with capacity adequate for the residents’ actual recyclable volume and not less than three gallons multiplied by the number of living units.
- Required Container Capacity: Provide clearly marked recycling containers with total capacity adequate for actual recyclable volume and no less than 3 gallons × living units.
- Required Minimum Materials: The recycling provider must accept at least glass containers, plastics, newspapers and aluminum cans.
- Private Collection: Property owners or managers must secure and manage recycling collection contracts for all building locations.
- City Reporting: Maintain hauler, container, collection-frequency and tonnage information needed for the City reporting process.
- Recommended Operations: The City recommends placing recycling near trash, clearly labeling containers and educating residents about accepted materials and contamination.
At a Glance: Atlanta, GA
- Jurisdiction: Incorporated City of Atlanta, including City territory in Fulton and DeKalb counties.
- Mandate Type: Mandatory multifamily recycling under City Code §130-38.
- Applicability Threshold: Multifamily dwellings, including public housing, with 6+ living units, and condominium or townhouse owners’ associations with 6+ living units.
- Container Capacity: Adequate for actual resident-generated recyclable volume and not less than 3 gallons × living units.
- Minimum Materials: Glass containers, plastics, newspapers and aluminum cans.
- Collection: Property owner or management arranges private recycling service for all building locations.
- Reporting: Recycling tonnage and program data must be submitted through the City reporting process.
- Notice Process: The current City portal states that an identified violation may result in written notice providing 90 business days to abate before further enforcement.
- References: City of Atlanta — Multifamily Recycling · ATL311 — Multifamily Recycling Initiative · City Recycling Reporting Portal · City Auditor — Recycling Audit, June 2025 · Atlanta Code — Chapter 130
Enforcement & Correction Snapshot
- Potential Violation: Failure to provide qualifying recycling containers, adequate capacity, required minimum materials, private collection or required reporting.
- Written Notice: The City reporting portal states that the Commissioner of Public Works may provide written notice requiring an identified violation to be corrected within 90 business days.
- After the Correction Period: Failure to comply after the notice period may proceed through the applicable City enforcement process. The controlling Code references Class B penalties and continuing offenses after the correction deadline, but this page does not quote a fixed dollar amount because the applicable remedy depends on the cited provision and adjudication.
- 2025 Audit Finding: The City Auditor found that Public Works had not enforced the multifamily recycling ordinance and recommended development of a detailed enforcement plan. Property managers should verify the current 2026 enforcement procedure with Public Works.
Operational records can help management verify service and document corrective action. They do not create a legal defense or guarantee that notices, citations, charges or enforcement will be avoided.
Property Manager Compliance Checklist — Atlanta §130-38
Swipe or drag horizontally to view the complete checklist.
| Task | Action / Requirement | Resources / Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm City Jurisdiction | Verify that the parcel is inside the incorporated City of Atlanta. Do not rely solely on the postal city or ZIP code. | Atlanta GIS Resources |
| ☑ Confirm Applicability | Document that the multifamily dwelling—including public housing—or condominium/townhouse association contains 6 or more living units. | ATL311 — Program Threshold |
| ☑ Calculate Capacity | Provide clearly marked commercial recycling containers with capacity adequate for actual recyclable volume and not less than 3 gallons × number of living units. | City — Capacity Requirement |
| ☑ Verify Minimum Materials | Confirm that the recycling provider accepts at least glass containers, plastics, newspapers and aluminum cans. Additional materials may be included when supported by the provider. | ATL311 — Required Materials |
| ☑ Contract Hauler & Service | Arrange private recycling service for all building locations. Maintain enough collection frequency to prevent overflow and preserve usable capacity. | City — Property Owner Role |
| ☑ Mark Containers Clearly | Provide clearly marked collection bins and containers for transporting recyclable material off site. | City — Container Guidance |
| ☑ Submit City Reports | Retain provider, property, unit-count, container, collection-frequency and tonnage data. Because City sources conflict on annual versus quarterly reporting, confirm the current submission cadence in writing and retain every filing confirmation. |
City Reporting Portal 2025 Audit Summary |
| ☑ Recommended: Layout | The City recommends locating recycling near trash, while keeping bins clearly distinguishable and accessible. Co-location is an operating recommendation, not part of the three-gallon formula. | City — Getting Started |
| ☑ Recommended: Education | Provide move-in instructions, bin-side signage and periodic reminders based on the contracted provider’s current accepted-material and contamination rules. | City Posters & Flyers |
| ☑ Recommended: Monitoring | Review fullness, contamination, signage and resident access on a recurring basis. Increase container count or service frequency when actual volume exceeds capacity. | City Multifamily Guidance |
Atlanta Recycling — Compliance Summary
- ☑ Jurisdiction: Incorporated City of Atlanta
- ☑ Mandate Type: Mandatory multifamily recycling under City Code §130-38
- ☑ Threshold: 6+ living units, including qualifying public housing, condominiums and townhouses
- ☑ Capacity: Adequate for actual recyclable volume and not less than 3 gallons × living units
- ☑ Minimum Materials: Glass containers, plastics, newspapers and aluminum cans
- ☑ Owner Duties: Provide qualifying containers, secure private collection, clearly mark bins and submit City recycling reports
- ☑ Reporting: Current City sources conflict between annual and quarterly cadence; confirm the required filing schedule with Public Works
- ☑ Enforcement: Written notice may provide 90 business days to abate before further enforcement
- ☑ Recommended Practices: Resident education, convenient layout, contamination monitoring and service right-sizing
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
