5 ways to live a more sustainable life in Birmingham

Sponsored

Birmingham hosts dozens of events each week, everything from concerts to 5Ks. One thing that’s promised at almost every event? Food and drink. Which means in the middle of all this fun is a lot of empty food containers, plastic bottles and cans.

Local companies help keep a lot of this waste off the streets of Birmingham, but an even bigger initiative is recycling these items.

We talked to one of these companies about common roadblocks made when it comes to recycling, and little tips we can do each day that make a big impact sustainably.

Clearing up common recycling misconceptions

A lot of things can get in the way of you actually recycling. Maybe you don’t know how the process works, or maybe you don’t even know where to take your items.

Tammy Stubbs, the Corporate Director of Sustainability at Coca-Cola UNITED, has heard every excuse, and here’s how she combats them:

• Excuse: “One bottle won’t matter.”
• Answer: Not true! Every bottle + can is critical to the recycling supply chain. This effort also avoids sending more materials to landfills.

• Excuse: “Recycling doesn’t really happen.”
• Answer: Some distrust the system, which is why Coca-Cola works with organizations that commit to building a true recycling supply chain.

• Excuse: “I don’t know what’s recyclable.”
• Answer: Ask questions to understand what’s being collected so everything actually gets recycled.

5 tips to build a more sustainable lifestyle

What can you do to live sustainably in your own life? We asked Stubbs that, too!

Here’s what she said:

1. Don’t litter

Rule number one: Pick up your own trash. Birmingham is a beautiful city! It’s important to do our part in keeping it that way.

2. Choose recyclable packaging (and actually recycle it)

Buy recyclable items – paper, cardboard, rPET/recycled plastics, aluminum cans – and then take the extra step to recycle them.

Think: Taking reusable bags on grocery runs and when you do buy your bottle or can of Coke, making an effort to recycle it.

3. Keep up with local drop-offs

Placing everything into a bin and “wishing” for it to be recycled takes valuable resources away from programs like neighborhood drop-offs and local recycling centers.

Recycling is more likely to happen when only the materials asked for are placed into collection bins. The more materials are efficiently recycled, the more items can be added to drop-off programs.

Keep up with your neighborhood recycling services, and check out local places to drop off your cans, bottles and other plastics:

• Birmingham Recycling-Recovery: 9 41st. Street Birmingham, AL 35222 or keep up with the pickup schedule
• Rather Recycling: 323 Finley Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35204
• UAB Recycling Center: 620 11th St. South, Birmingham, AL, 35294

4. Be energy mindful

Setting aside plastic for a second, another way to live a more sustainable lifestyle is to be mindful about the energy and power you’re using in your day-to-day.

This might look like using LED lighting, choosing energy-efficient appliances or unplugging devices you’re not using.

5. Support recycling at events across Birmingham

When you’re out and about at different Birmingham events, look for designated bins at parks, venues and stadiums. Be sure to put recyclable materials into the correct bin. Everything placed in the right bin supports circularity and the production of 100% recycled plastic bottles and cans.

Your turn, Birmingham! How are you living a more sustainable life in 2026? Tag us @bhamnow and let us know.

Keep up with Coca-Cola UNITED’s sustainability efforts and more initiatives on Facebook and Instagram.

Sponsored by: