Adem Recycling Grant Check Presentation Troy — The City of Troy was one of the recipients of the recycling grants. (Pat Byington / The Bama Buzz)

Alabama’s going green(er)! Last week, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) held the Alabama Recycling Fund (ARF) check presentation, and there were some big numbers involved. Here’s what you need to know.

The recipients of the Alabama Recycling Fund grants

The Downtown Area Of Huntsville — Huntsville is one of the recipients of these grants. (Nathan Watson / The Bama Buzz)

In total, there are approximately $7.5M worth of grants in three different categories. There were 37 recipients across the categories, including several first-time recipients.

2023 Supplemental Grants

Friends of Dunnavant Valley Greenway
City of Atmore
City of Alexander City
City of Luverne
City of Southside
Calhoun County commission
City of Troy
City of Guntersville
City of Dothan
City of Gulf Shores

2024 Grant

Montgomery Clean City Commission
City of Rainbow City
City of Fairhope
City of Gadsden
Fayette County Commission
Shelby County Commission
Keep Oxford Beautiful
City of Eufaula
Solid Waste Disposal Authority of the City of Huntsville
City of Arab
City of Irondale
City of Scottsboro
Baldwin County Commission
Montgomery County Commission
Limestone County Commission
City of Birmingham

2023 Supplemental + 2024 Grants

East Alabama Recycling Partnership
City of Talladega
City of Prattville
Albertville-Boaz Recycling and Solid Waste Disposal Authority
City of Brewton
City of Northport
Shoals Solid Waste Disposal Authority
City of Montgomery
City of Florence
West Alabama Recycling Partnership
City of Decatur/Morgan County Regional Landfill

The impact of the recycling grants in Alabama

City Of Irondale Recycling Grants Adem — The City of Irondale was another ARF grant recipient. (Pat Byington / The Bama Buzz)

So where is all this money going? What is it doing? We talked with Lynn Battle about the impact of these grants in Alabama.

“The grants will pay for collection equipment, educational materials, processing equipment, and other needs of local recycling programs. The funding will benefit local communities and households throughout the state, and enable Alabama to continue to achieve Statewide waste reduction and recycling goals.”
Lynn Battle, Chief, Office of External Affairs

This certainly isn’t the first time that these recycling grants have made an impact in Alabama.

“Since 2008, ADEM has awarded over 250 grants totaling more than $30M to recipients to enhance recycling programs across the state.”
Lynn Battle, Chief, Office of External Affairs

This money is making a bigger, real difference. In Huntsville, they’re looking to use the money to build their own recycling processing facility.

“We’re actually having to take [collections] to Chattanooga to process. It makes no sense. So we’re looking at building one in Huntsville…this is the first step in starting that big process.”
Scott Story, Operations Compliance Manager, Solid Waste Disposal Authority of the City of Huntsville

The moral of the story? These grants are making a tangible, real difference in each community that receives the funds.

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