FAIRHOPE — The Solid Waste Disposal Authority (SWDA) of Baldwin County has opened Alabama’s first Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM).

The new facility, located at 20609 Bishop Road in Fairhope, offers residents a manned convenience center to dispose of certain items that are typically not accepted curbside, such as materials made of aluminum, glass and select plastics. To commemorate the opening of the CHaRM facility, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Aug. 7 where more than 50 community members, elected officials and sustainability partners were in attendance.

According to SWDA, hundreds of households in Daphne have enrolled in their curbside recycling program since launching in June. Along with the new CHaRM facility, these initiatives are projected to divert thousands of tons of waste from Baldwin County landfills in their first year.

“This facility gives our residents the added infrastructure they need to recycle everyday items that couldn’t be handled curbside,” SWDA CEO Terri Graham said. “By diverting these materials from the material recovery facility, we are ensuring safety for our workers as well as protecting our waterways, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a more sustainable future by keeping these resources out of our landfills.”

“CHaRM is a game changer for our community,” Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan said. “Now, residents throughout Baldwin County have one convenient location to drop off electronics, batteries, paint and other hard-to-recycle items — helping keep our county clean and green.”

The facility is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. through noon. No appointments are required. Residents may bring aluminum cans; glass bottles and jars; cardboard; Nos. 1-7 plastics; mixed paper; small household batteries; and light bulbs.

A small handling fee will apply to certain items:

● Residential paint and household hazardous waste are $2 per gallon.
● Car batteries are $2 each.
● Propane tanks and fire extinguishers are $4 each.
● Electronics such as TVs, phones and laptops are $5 per unit.

Items not accepted at the CHaRM include tires, mattresses, construction debris, furniture, medical or biohazardous waste and white goods.