Alabama opens door to region's first aluminium & hard-to-recycle materials recovery centre
Baldwin County, Alabama, has taken a bold step toward a cleaner, greener future with the opening of the state’s first Centre for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) in Fairhope. Operated by the Solid Waste Disposal Authority (SWDA), this staffed, one-stop facility makes it easier than ever for residents to responsibly dispose of items that can’t go in curbside bins while shining a spotlight on the environmental power of aluminium recycling.
Aluminium, one of the world’s most recyclable materials, can be reused indefinitely without losing quality. Recycling it uses 95 per cent less energy than producing new aluminium from raw ore and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. By collecting aluminium cans at the CHaRM, Baldwin County is helping keep valuable resources in circulation, reducing landfill waste, and supporting the global shift toward a circular economy.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony attracted over 50 attendees, including community members, elected officials, and sustainability advocates. SWDA CEO Terri Graham explained the facility’s broader impact: “This facility gives our residents the added infrastructure they need to recycle everyday items that couldn’t be handled curbside. By diverting these materials from the material recovery facility, we are ensuring safety for our workers, protecting our waterways, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and building a more sustainable future by keeping these resources out of our landfills.”
Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan called the CHaRM a “game-changer” for the community. “Now residents throughout Baldwin County have one convenient location to drop off electronics, batteries, paint, aluminium cans, and other hard-to-recycle items—helping keep our county clean and green.”
The CHaRM is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon, with no appointments required. Many items can be dropped off at no cost, including:
- Aluminium cans
- Glass bottles and jars
- Cardboard
- Plastics #1–#7
- Mixed paper
- Small household batteries and light bulbs
A small handling fee applies to certain materials:
- Residential paint and household hazardous waste: $2 per gallon
- Car batteries: $2 each
- Propane tanks and fire extinguishers: $4 each
- Electronics such as TVs, phones, and laptops: $5 per unit
Items not accepted include tires, mattresses, construction debris, furniture, medical or biohazardous waste, and white goods.
Grow with
AL Circle
