Florence showed what’s possible—broader access and residents rising as recycling superheroes.
In 2014, Florence, Alabama, became the very first community to receive a cart grant from The Recycling Partnership. Partnering with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, we rolled out over 14,000 65-gallon carts and launched weekly collection, laying the groundwork for bigger, better recycling access. Florence didn’t stop there. The city expanded routes to meet rising demand and added polypropylene to what could be collected, turning participation into progress. It was also the site of our first-ever community activation event—where Florence residents showed up as true recycling superheroes, capes and all.
“This financial investment by the Recycling Partnership and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management substantially increased the City [of Florence’s] recycling program and created a stronger recycling infrastructure in North Alabama,” said Mayor Mickey Haddock. “We are excited that the public-private partnership allows us to implement proven best practices into our program and in turn, increase the materials available to manufacturers. Our goal is to be a model for municipal recycling.”
