Baldwin County Boosts Recycling Infrastructure with $202K Investment from America's Beverage Companies

August 7, 2025 - BALDWIN COUNTY, AL. - In a major step toward strengthening Alabama's recycling infrastructure, America's leading beverage companies have invested $202,000 in Baldwin County to upgrade local recycling centers and expand public education on sustainable waste practices. The grant, awarded through the Every Bottle Back initiative in partnership with The Recycling Partnership, will benefit more than 110,000 households across the southern coastal region.

Upgrades That Matter

The funding will equip two Baldwin County recycling centers with new compactor systems, improving the efficiency of transporting recyclable materials to the county's newly established material recovery facility. These upgrades are designed to streamline operations and increase the volume of recyclables processed, keeping valuable materials like plastic and aluminum in circulation and out of landfills.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the grant supports a county-wide outreach and education campaign to help residents better understand what materials can be recycled and where to access the new convenience centers.

"Baldwin County is home to beautiful beaches, parks and natural landscapes we all enjoy," said Virginia Banister, executive director of the Alabama Beverage Association. "Every Bottle Back is making it easier for Baldwin County residents to recycle and ensuring our 100% recyclable bottles and cans are collected and remade, as intended. We want to build more sustainable communities in the state and keep valuable materials in use and out of the environment."

Long-Term Environmental Impact

Over the next decade, the Baldwin County improvements are projected to divert 28 million pounds of recyclable materials from landfills and the environment. This includes:

• 10.9 million pounds of PET plastic

• 364,000 pounds of aluminum

These materials will be remade into new products, reinforcing the circular economy and reducing the need for virgin resources.

A Statewide Commitment

This latest investment builds on nearly $700,000 already committed by American Beverage to recycling projects in Decatur, Mobile, and Baldwin County. Collectively, these efforts reach 450,000 residents and are expected to keep 12.7 million pounds of plastic out of the environment over the next 10 years.

National Momentum

The Baldwin County initiative is part of the broader Every Bottle Back campaign launched in 2019 by The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and PepsiCo. To date, the initiative has reached 63 communities nationwide, with an estimated impact of:

• 724 million pounds of recycled PET

• 46 million pounds of recycled aluminum

These numbers reflect a growing commitment to sustainability and plastics circularity, supported by partners like Closed Loop Partners, The Recycling Partnership, and World Wildlife Fund.

For more information on the Every Bottle Back initiative and its impact across the U.S., visit https://madetoberemade.org/