Foley recycling trucks with a new design will soon roll through city streets as efforts continue to encourage residents to keep materials out of landfills. The new design includes the slogan 鈥淪imple Act Big Impact,鈥� on a blue background and a triangle of white arrows. The design was selected from several created by the city.
Foley collects recyclable materials, including cardboard, paper, plastic and aluminum, from locations in the city once a week. The city recycling program has a participation rate of more than 60%.
In January, Foley delivered its first truckload of recyclable materials to Baldwin County鈥檚 newly opened Materials Recovery Facility. The new $25-million facility is operated by the Baldwin County Solid Waste Authority.
The MRF will allow Foley and other Baldwin County municipalities to recycle materials at a more economical rate. Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said increased recycling by city residents saves landfill space and reduces disposal costs for the city.
With the opening of the authority鈥檚 MRF, we hope to increase our recycling program,鈥� Hellmich said 鈥淩ight now, our participation rate is better than 60%.鈥�
The 60,000-square-foot Baldwin County recycling and processing facility is next to the Baldwin County Solid Waste Authority site, which includes the Magnolia Landfill. The site also includes a 7,000-square-foot educational center where school children can watch the process and learn how recycling works.
Before the county MRF opened, trucks from Foley and other cities had to transport loads of recyclables to a site in Escambia County, Florida. In addition to reduced transportation costs, the fees for each ton of material taken to the new MRF is also less than the charge that was being paid at facilities used in the past.
The new recycling center will not take glass. Foley also does not collect glass for recycling. The local recycling centers send materials to processing facilities. No processing facilities in the region take glass for recycling.