Collection of Hard
to Recycle Materials
For Clutter-Free Peace of Mind.
Dispose Responsibly. Sign Up for Pickup.
18+ Material Types
6+ Material Reuses
100% Responsible
Flexible & Film Plastics
Clean stretchy plastic film, grocery bags, bread bags, and more are recycled into composite decking and outdoor furniture.
Rigid Plastics
Food storage containers, milk/laundry containers, soap bottles, water bottles and more are recycled into automative bumpers, pipes, crates, storage containers, trays, and gardening pots.
Foam Plastics
Styrofoam, foam takeout containers, packing peanuts, foam coolers, and more are shredded and compressed for picture frames, new packaging for shipments, and construction.
Electronics
Computers, phones, cables, small appliances, and more are refurbished to be resold to people locally (with cleared memory) OR disassembled for each component to be reused for new electronics.
Textiles
Clothing, linens, shoes, and fabric items in any condition are reused via thrift stores or recycled for industrial purposes.
Donations
Household goods, books, toys, and usable items are distributed to local partners and thrift stores.
TerraCycle Zero Waste Bags
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Waste Categories
How CHaRM's Simple, Convenient Recycling Works
Toggle between Route Collection and Mail-In Collection instructions below.
Not sure which one is offered in your area? Click here.
Once registered, we’ll mail you a starter kit containing two 18"x24" CHaRM bags to get you rolling!
Fill & Schedule
Fill your bags with your items! Remember: keep it to one material type per bag! Once full, log into your account to opt-in for a collection.
Prep for Collection Day
We’ll send you an email and text reminder the day before we arrive. On collection day, simply place your filled CHaRM bags outside by 7:00 AM.
Auto-Replenishment
The number of filled CHaRM bags you put out for collection, we automatically replace with the same number of empty CHaRM bags. Then, go back to Step 2 and continue the cycle!
Once registered, we’ll mail you a starter kit containing two 20"x14" CHaRM bags to get you rolling!
Fill & Schedule
Fill your bags with your items! Remember: keep it to one material type per bag!
Mail Back
All of your Mail-In CHaRM bags will be prelabeled to ship with USPS. You can drop off the bags at your nearest USPS or you can schedule a pick up at USPS.com.
Order New CHaRM Bags
Once mailed, you can purchase new CHaRM bags through your account and continue the cycle of responsible recycling!
CHaRM Collection Types
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Route Collection
- Flexible & Film Plastics
- Foam Plastics
- Rigid Plastics
- Electronics
- Textiles
- Donations
This includes 2 CHaRM bags as well as the cost of collection and recycling the materials!
Mail-In Collection
- Flexible & Film Plastics
- Foam Plastics
- Rigid Plastics
This includes 2 CHaRM bags as well as the cost of shipping and recycling the materials!
Now Servicing 20+ Towns
Towns offering CHaRM Route Collection
Mail-in Service
What Goes In My CHaRM Bags?
Download and print the complete list for easy reference.
Accepted
Plastic Stretchy Film
Air Packaging
Bread Bags
Bubble Wrap
Case Wraps
Food Storage Bags
Padded Envelopes or Mailers
Plastic Shopping Bags
Ziploc Bags
Plastic Wrap
Shrink Wrap
Not Accepted
Glass
Foamed Plastics
Non-Stretchy Plastic
PLA or Compostable Plastics
Wood
Accepted
PET #1 Soda/Water Bottles/Strapping
HDPE #2 Milk/Laundry Containers
PVC #3 Containers and Siding
LDPE #4 Containers
PP #5 Containers
PS #6 Containers
Other #7 - ABS, PC, Nylon, etc....
Plastic Drums & Pallets
Mixed Rigid Plastics
Medical Plastics/Pill Bottles
Agricultural Plastics and Flowerpots
HDPE Tanks, Trays and Crates
Not Accepted
Flexible/Film plastic
Non-stretchy plastic
PLA or compostable plastic
Foam Plastics
Styrofoam
Accepted
Foam Packaging
LDPE #4 & PP #5
EPS #6 "Styrofoam" & Packing Peanuts
Packaging Endcaps
EPS #6 Foam Coolers
EPS #6 Foam Fish Coffins
EPS #6 "Styrofoam" GEOFOAM
EPS #6 "Styrofoam" Foam Insulation
EPS #6 Food Service Foam (cups, plates, clamshells, school lunch trays)
PUR #7 Carpet Padding, Mattress Padding, Packaging
PUR #7 Closed Cell Foam
Not Accepted
Flexible/Film plastic
Non-stretchy plastic PLA or compostable plastic
Rigid Plastics
Accepted
Boom Boxes/Radios
Cable Boxes
Cameras
Cell Phones
Computer Towers
Cords/Chargers
Electronic Toys
Fans
GPS Systems
Hard Drives
Hair Dryers
Headphones
Home/Office Phones
Keyboards
Laptops
Mice
Printers/Scanners
Routers/Servers
Satellite Receivers
Small Kitchen Appliances
Speakers
Stereo Equipment
Tablets
VCR/DVD Players
Video Cameras
Video Game Consoles
Walkie Talkies
Watches
Add On (+Fee)
Flat Screen Monitor
Flat Screen TV
Lamp
Microwave
Vacuum
Not Accepted
Air Conditioning Units Batteries
Breast Pumps
CD's
CRT Monitors
Dehumidifiers
Electronic Toothbrushes
Floppy Disks
Light bulbs
Shavers
Smoke Detectors
Thermometers
VHS Tapes
Accepted
Belts
Bedding/Linens
Clothing
Curtains
Decorative Pillows
Fabric Scraps
Hats & Gloves
Jackets
Purses
Shoes
Towels
Not Accepted
Insert Material
Stuffed Animals
Wet, Moldy, or Mildewy Textiles
Accepted
Artwork
Books
CDs/DVDs
Coffee Makers
Drink-ware (not glass)
Jewelry
Musical Instruments
Nick-knacks
Pots and Pans
Silverware
Sports Equipment
Sports Memorabilia
Toys and Stuffed Animals
Not Accepted
Electronics
Fragile Items (dishes, etc.)
Furniture
Shoes
Textiles & Fabric
Magazines
Mattresses
Small Bags
Coffee Capsules
Corks
Cosmetics
Eyewear
Ink and Toner Cartridges
Oral Care Packaging
PPE Gloves and Masks
Plastic Bottle Caps
Water Filters
Large Bags
Food and Drink Pouches
Milk + Juice Cartons
Office Supplies
Party Supplies
Pet Food Packaging
Styrofoam
Cleaning Supplies (empty)
Addressing Waste Challenges Through Sustainable Practices
Our service seamlessly integrates environmentally conscious behaviors into your daily life.
Tonnes of e-waste was generated in the US in 2018 (EPA)
Tonnes of textiles waste was combusted & landfilled in 2018 (EPA)
Tonnes of plastic was received by US landfills in 2018 (EPA)
Reused, Repurposed, or Recycled
Our trusted partners find the best possible end use for your material.
FAQs
Get answers to common questions about our CHaRM recycling service
We are currently collecting over 20 towns in MA. Don't see your town? You can sign up for our CHaRM mail-in collection through the CHaRM sign up page.
Sort materials into designated bags provided in your starter kit. Clean and dry items ensure recycling or reuse of all materials.
Place them somewhere covered like a front porch/door or an open mailroom at the front of a building. Have your bags out and ready for collection by 7 AM on the day of the route. (Place AT LEAST 2 items out for collection each time). You can let us know where to look for your items when you complete your order. We recommend NOT leaving items out on the curb to ensure all items are recycled as intended.
We have our CHaRM collection monthly for our route collection. Sign up for route collection or mail-in collection options. (Location dependent) Customers will be notified prior to the pickup letting them know they can opt-in for the next pickup. All customers will be notified of their specific collection date a week before the pickups begin. All CHaRM customers MUST opt-in through their account dashboard for EVERY pickup.
You can schedule a pickup once a month for our route collection option. Automated text and email reminders help you stay on track with your recycling schedule.
Each material type has specific guidelines. Some items may require special handling or TerraCycle zero waste bags. Always check our detailed accepted items list before collection.
Please send an email to charm@blackearthcompost.com and we will let you know if we are able to take those items.
Yes, we accept electronics in any condition. Non-functional devices are responsibly stripped and recycled into base materials. Data security is our top priority during processing.
Our partnered Electronics Recycler does have NAID AAA certification for data destruction, so when hard drives arrive at the facility all data is removed before the items are recycled.
We do recommend formatting all hard drives before putting them out for collection for sake of redundancy and security. Please Google your device name and "how to format hard drive" for information on your specific device.
First, CLEAN and DRY ALL materials you want to recycle. Separation is KEY, so make sure you place each stream type/material in its’ own bag when using CHaRM bags.
No, each bag must contain only one category of material. This ensures proper sorting and maximizes recycling potential for each item. (Unless you use the Large Terracycle Bag option "All Plastic Packaging")
Still have questions? We're here to help.
CHaRM Commercial
Get in touch about our CHaRM program for businesses and organizations. We'll help you recycle materials responsibly.
CHaRM transformed how I think about waste. What used to end up in my trash now becomes a resource for our community, and it feels incredibly empowering."
