MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's Department of Environmental Management isn't messing around when it comes to recycling.
AL.Com reports Alabama recycled more than 25% of its generated trash in 2018, setting a new record.
Materials Management Section Chief Gavin Adams says Alabama recycled 16% of its total waste, nearly doubling the rate from seven years ago. Operations like Huntsville's waste-to-energy incinerator added to the overall waste diversion.
Alabama's recycling efforts jump started in 2008 when then-Governor Bob Riley signed a law establishing higher fees for landfill usage. The money funded newer and better recycling programs.
Alabama is still behind the national recycling and composting average.
However, Alabama's three largest cities, Birmingham, Montgomery and Huntsville are revamping their recycling programs in 2019, hoping to capture more material before it ends up in a landfill.