Beyond the Blue Can
Only a few years ago, Alabama was on track to become a keystone state in recycling for a larger part of the United States with introductions of program overhauls and positive economic impact statements. So, what is the state of recycling today and where do we stand now?
Before 2008, you’d be hard-pressed to find information about AL’s waste management. Then, twelve years ago, a bill was passed by the Alabama Legislature to completely change the way our state handles trash. The Solid Wastes and Recyclable Materials Management Act established new fees that funded recycling programs with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), in turn providing bins and drop-off sites for neighborhoods across the state, new jobs, and a better reporting system.
Although there has been some headway made over the last decade, with recycling rates for the entire state moving from below 9% to almost 25% at the height of the 2018, there is still a struggle to divert waste materials in the larger cities such as Birmingham, Huntsville, and Montgomery. In fact, the last timely reports are from 2019. And in 2020, amid the pandemic, Mayor Woodfin of Birmingham made dramatic changes to the collection of waste and recyclables in the city due to a lack of participation.
This is where YOU come in.
Making active choices to keep landfills low and reduce waste is how we are thinking “beyond the blue can” at CCF. Reusables are a great, easy step toward joining this movement. That includes investing in a water bottle or water service for your home, using tupperware instead of plastic baggies and brown paper bags, washable handrags instead of paper towels, etc. Consider too, what companies you buy from for these materials and if they too are making eco-friendly choices that help keep Earth going.
These small steps make a huge impact when we all work together.
Sources:
https://www.al.com/news/2019/06/alabama-hits-recycling-milestone-keeping-quarter-of-all-trash-from-landfills.html
https://bhamnow.com/2020/04/07/birmingham-curbside-recycling-suspended/
http://adem.alabama.gov/programs/land/landforms/ARPReportFinal.pdf