New $15M facility to help Baldwin County communities with more efficient recycling

A new facility in Baldwin County is scheduled to open soon and could make local cities’ recycling programs more cost effective.

The City of Foley says it and other local cities currently take recycling materials to Florida for processing. A new facility will help cut travel time and costs.

Keep reading to find out more about the facility + how it will make recycling easier across Baldwin County.

Materials recovery facility

The 50,000-square-foot facility is currently under construction by the Baldwin County Solid Waste Authority and is expected to be completed later this year. The project is expected to cost $15 million according to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM).

The new site will also include the Waster and Recycle Adventure Center, an educative experience which will allow schools to bring classes to the facility to learn about the recycling process.

The facility is being built adjacent to Magnolia Landfill in Summerdale. More than 12,000 tons of materials can be processed per year including:

• Cardboard
• Paper
• Aluminum
• Plastic

Mike Thompson, Foley city administrator, said the move will reduce fuel costs and the time needed for vehicles and crews to transport the material. 

Read more: How the Florence recycling center became one of the most successful programs in the state

Recycling in Baldwin County

While the county and its cities will be cutting down on travel costs, they are also trying to make recycling easier and more accessible for everyone who lives in the area.

Starting in 2025, all Baldwin County residents are expected to have curbside recycling pickup available. ADEM is also providing over $400,000 in grant money for local cities to buy recycling equipment.

In Foley, containers are the same size as standard garbage cans and can be collected using the systems on trucks. The cans can also be rolled to the street unlike smaller bins that are carried to the curb. 

“Right now, all the recycled materials (from Baldwin County) are going out of state. We don’t really have the means to process recyclables in the county. By building this facility, the residents of Baldwin County will be able to have access to recycling and hopefully neighboring communities as well.”

~ Terri Graham, Director of Solid Waste for Baldwin County

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