Alabama Coastal Cleanup Recycling

Recycling Efforts

Video: Items to Recycle

Since 2019 the event coordinators have partnered with the Osprey Initiative to recycle aluminum and plastic #1.

In 2021, 2,757 aluminum cans and 3,696 bottles with a total weight of 263 lbs were collected. These gathered materials were taken to the Mobile Recycling Center.

It is important to know that not everything can be recycled. Only plastic #1 and aluminum cans are collected to be recycled during the cleanup. Also, just because it is a can or a bottle does not mean that it can be sucessfully recycled. Cans and bottles that are too dirty or degraded are not acceptable.

Why recycle plastics? Recycling plastic takes 88% less energy than making plastic from raw materials. One ton of recycled plastic saves 30 cubic yards of landfill space, 98 milliion Btu’s of energy, 685 gallons of oil and 5.774 megawatts of electricity.

Why recycle aluminum? Aluminum is a material that is infinitely recyclable. Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today. Making recycled aluminum only takes around 5% of the energy needed to make new aluminum.

Your efforts to recycle will save energy, overall costs, and reduce needed landfill space. This benefits you and the environment.

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