ADEM awards nearly $2.5M in recycling grants

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management announced Monday that it will distribute nearly $2.5 million in recycling grants to communities, local governments, solid waste authorities and nonprofit organizations across the state during fiscal year 2027.

The $2,497,602 in funding comes from the Alabama Recycling Fund, a program created under the Solid Wastes and Recyclable Materials Management Act, which was passed in 2008. The law established a statewide goal of reducing solid waste by 25 percent and created a $1-per-ton, or 25-cent-per-cubic-yard, fee on waste disposed of in Alabama landfills.

Revenue from the fee supports ADEM’s solid waste and recycling programs, local recycling grants and efforts to clean up unauthorized dump sites.

“ADEM is proud to announce the recipients of recycling grants for next year,” ADEM Director Edward Poolos said. “They range from small cities, such as Moundville, to one of the largest cities, Birmingham, as well large countywide operations such as the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County.”

ADEM announced the awards during the Alabama Recycling Coalition’s Annual Conference and Expo in Gulf Shores. The grants will go to 20 recipients, including municipalities, county governments, regional solid waste authorities and nonprofit organizations.

The largest award, $350,580, went to the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County. The West Alabama Recycling Partnership received $331,658, while Northport was awarded $243,911. Auburn will receive $214,957, Birmingham $198,000 and Jefferson County $169,080.

The Alabama Recycling Coalition also received $102,500 to support its work promoting recycling and waste reduction.

Under ADEM’s recycling grant program, eligible local governments, authorities and nonprofit organizations can receive reimbursement funding to develop, implement or expand recycling programs. Grants can support projects including recycling bins and containers, storage facilities, infrastructure and equipment, education and outreach, personnel and professional services.

“What they have in common is they are taking materials that would otherwise go in landfills, or littered along roads, city streets and even our waterways, and making those materials available for productive reuse,” Poolos said. “That is preserving our land and water and protecting our environment.”

The recycling grants are part of a state program established by the 2008 law. In addition to setting the statewide waste reduction goal, the legislation directed ADEM to establish a statewide recycling program and measurement system, provide stable funding for the department’s solid waste and recycling work, support local recycling initiatives and provide resources to address illegal dumping.

ADEM also tracks facilities that process recyclable materials. Materials recovery facilities and recovered materials processing facilities are subject to registration or notification requirements with the department, depending on the type of operation. Recycling facilities are generally required to submit annual reports to ADEM.

Poolos said the grants are particularly important for smaller communities that may not have the financial resources to operate or expand recycling programs.

“These grants are absolutely essential, especially for smaller communities that don’t have large budgets,” Poolos said. “It would be easy for them to skip recycling and just dispose of all the garbage they collect in landfills, which wastes resources. This program incentivizes them to take that extra step toward the reuse.”

The remaining fiscal year 2027 grant recipients are:

• Alexander City: $30,844
• Florence Recycle Center: $85,003
• Gadsden: $45,000
• Guntersville: $66,050
• Hartselle: $12,490
• Moundville: $113,387
• Rainbow City: $117,740
• Southside: $38,950
• Troy: $24,583
• Calhoun County Commission: $136,500
• Limestone County Commission: $71,590
• Shelby County Commission: $55,279
• Shoals Solid Waste Disposal Authority: $89,500

This is the 18th year of the recycling grant program. Since 2008, ADEM has awarded 339 grants totaling more than $39 million to support recycling efforts across Alabama.