Working on waste reduction and recycling efforts since 1973

Moss Rock Festival
ECO SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Alabama Environmental Council

Why is running an environmentally conscious business important to you?

The Alabama Environmental Council (AEC) recognizes the positive link between a strong economy, a clean environment, and a healthy, proactive citizenry. By working for a healthy environment with an emphasis on clean air, efficient and renewable energy, and improved waste reduction practices, we provide a voice for Alabama now and for the future.

What need drove or inspired your eco-related business or organization?

The AEC formed 45 years ago as the Alabama Conservancy (before the EPA, Earth Day, Clear Air Act, and Clean Water Act) to initiate protection of Alabama’s natural environment. Since those early days, the AEC has been instrumental in these successes in the state, among many others: creation of the Sipsey Wilderness, Bartram Trail, and Dugger Mountain Wilderness, the Oak Mountain State Park Teaching Facility, Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, the Alabama Wildlife Center, as well as initiating curbside recycling programs in Birmingham and other municipalities around the state.

The organization has worked on waste reduction and recycling efforts since 1973 with such accomplishments as founding numerous recycling efforts throughout the state and the establishment of the City of Birmingham’s (COB) curbside recycling program. Today, the AEC still operates the state’s oldest non-profit recycling center which processes more than 2,000 tons of glass, plastic, aluminum, steel, mixed paper, cardboard, and electronics each year. Over the past few years, in collaboration with the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH), the AEC has acquired nearly $750,000 in ADEM Recycling Fund grants to expand and improve Jefferson County’s recycling infrastructure. These grants are being used to make recycling available to 14 communities that did not previously have access to recycling, create a glass and office paper pick-up program for Birmingham businesses, provide access to event recycling bins for Birmingham events and festivals, expand UAB’s recycling capacity, build a new recycling center in south Jefferson County, purchase curbside recycling bins for Birmingham’s program, and more.

How can people find out more about your company or organization and what it does, besides coming out to Moss Rock Festival?

Visit www.AEConline.org

Visit www.RecycleAL.com

Visit us at the Downtown Birmingham Recycling Center (2431 2nd Ave N, 35203)

Call our office at 205.322.3126

Alabama Environmental is helping the festival with it’s recycling efforts. Be sure to look for the specially marked trash and Recycle Alabama receptacles located throughout the festival site. The Alabama Environmental Council will be recycling aluminum cans and plastic bottles at MRF this year. Thank you for helping us in this recycling effort!