Alabama Statewide Rule

Alabama Recycling: No Statewide Mandate, Local Plans Required

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Alabama (2026)

Key Facts

Governing law: Code of Ala. §§22-27-40 to 49
Household recycling: Not mandatory statewide
Local plan: Required of every county
Statewide reduction goal: 25%
Disposal fee: $1.00 per ton

Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

Alabama imposes no mandatory recycling on residents or businesses. Under the Solid Wastes and Recyclable Materials Management Act, every county and municipality must file an ADEM-approved solid waste management plan that addresses recycling, and the state pursues a 25% waste-reduction goal.

The governing body of a county or municipality has a responsibility for and the authority to assure the proper management of solid wastes generated within its jurisdiction in accordance with its solid waste management plan. Local solid waste management plans shall be developed pursuant to the guidance stated in Code of Ala. 1975, §22-27-47(b).

View official code

Full Breakdown

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) administers the Solid Wastes and Recyclable Materials Management Act, Code of Ala. 1975 §§22-27-40 to 22-27-49. It does not require households or businesses to recycle. Instead, ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-13-9-.06 and Code of Ala. §22-27-47 require each county, and any municipality that opts out of its county plan, to develop, adopt, and periodically revise a local solid waste management plan that evaluates recycling potential, existing recovery operations, and collection options, then submit it to ADEM for approval. A $1.00-per-ton statewide disposal fee funds the Alabama Recycling Fund, which grants money to local recycling programs. Alabama's Solid Waste Reduction Goal is 25%.

Violations & Penalties

ADEM enforces plan compliance, not household recycling. Counties or municipalities that fail to submit or revise an ADEM-approved local solid waste management plan face ADEM enforcement; nine counties and seven municipalities were noncompliant as of March 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Alabama require residents to recycle?

No. No statewide law compels households or businesses to recycle. Participation is voluntary; curbside and drop-off recycling depend entirely on your county or city program.

Who must have a recycling plan in Alabama?

Every county, and any municipality that opts out of its county plan, must adopt an ADEM-approved solid waste management plan that addresses recycling, under Code of Ala. §22-27-47.

What is Alabama's recycling goal?

A statewide 25% Solid Waste Reduction Goal tracked by ADEM, met in 2018 through 2022. The Alabama Recycling Fund awards grants to local recycling and waste-minimization programs.

Sources

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.