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Two men stand on a stadium field placing a Coca-Cola can and bottle into a blue recycling bin labeled "Bottles & Cans Only — Coca-Cola UNITED and Osprey Initiative are teaming up to help keep the 2026 Magic City Classic “clean and green.” (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

On Saturday, October 31, tens of thousands of fans will pack Legion Field in Birmingham for the largest HBCU classic in the nation: the 85th annual Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola. Throughout the event, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED and Osprey Initiative are teaming up to encourage fans to recycle their plastic bottles and aluminum cans, keeping those materials out of landfills and helping historic Legion Field look its best.

Whether you’re cheering on the Bulldogs or the Hornets, here’s how you can do your part to keep the Magic City Classic clean and green.

About the Magic City Classic

Marching band members in maroon and white uniforms play trumpets on a football field before a packed stadium crowd — Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University will face off at the annual Magic City Classic, one of Birmingham’s biggest traditions. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Held annually since 1945, the Magic City Classic is a major football rivalry between the two largest HBCUs in the state: Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University. Between the Magic City Classic Parade, tailgate parties at Legion Field and the big game itself, the event draws tens of thousands of alumni, students, families and fans from across the state and beyond.

What: The 85th annual Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- 8AM: Magic City Classic Parade
- 10AM–2PM: Tailgate Party
- 2:30PM: Kickoff
Where: Legion Field, 400 Graymont Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204

Coca-Cola UNITED + Osprey Initiative bring recycling to the 2026 Magic City Classic

Person placing an empty Coca-Cola bottle into a stadium recycling bin labeled "Bottles & Cans Only — You can help keep Legion Field in Birmingham “clean and green” by tossing plastic bottles and aluminum cans into these bins. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

In 2024, Coca-Cola UNITED partnered with the Osprey Initiative to introduce game-day recycling at the Magic City Classic, collecting more than 14,000 plastic bottles and aluminum cans. This year, the organizations are teaming up again to keep the momentum going.

“Our goal is to collect even more bottles and cans than previous years. We encourage all of the fans to recycle and help keep Legion Field green and clean.”
William King, Business Development Manager, North Alabama Division, Coca-Cola UNITED

So, how does game-day recycling work at an event like the Magic City Classic? It starts by making it easy.

“With thousands of fans attending the Classic, one of the biggest challenges is making sure recycling is convenient and ensuring attendees know where and how to recycle their bottles and cans.”
William King, Business Development Manager, North Alabama Division, Coca-Cola UNITED

In the weeks leading up to the Classic, Coca-Cola UNITED and the Osprey Initiative have placed recycling bins throughout the stadium and tailgating areas, pairing them with trash cans to make it easier for fans to know where to toss each item.

“Fans can help by putting recyclable bottles and cans in designated bins and keeping food waste and other trash out. Having convenient collection points throughout the stadium and tailgating areas makes it easier for everyone to recycle.”
Walker Hamilton, Project Manager, Osprey Initiative

Man standing beside a bottles and cans recycling bin on the field at Legion Field stadium — These recycling bins will be placed throughout Legion Field in Birmingham to encourage fans to recycle their cans and plastic bottles. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Once the game wraps up, Osprey Initiative will collect the bins and sort through the recyclables by hand, separating aluminum cans and No. 1 plastic bottles from other waste. They’ll also track the amount of each material collected, using that data to make more informed decisions about recycling programs at future events.

For Coca-Cola UNITED, the effort is also about giving those recyclable materials another life. The cans and plastic bottles collected can be processed and used to make new products and packaging, helping reduce waste and support a more circular approach to materials.

“At Coca-Cola UNITED, we believe our bottles and cans are made to be remade. Recycling helps give these packages another life, rather than allowing them to end up in a landfill.”
William King, Business Development Manager, North Alabama Division, Coca-Cola UNITED

Learn more about Coca-Cola UNITED’s commitment to sustainability

Teaming up with the Osprey Initiative at the Magic City Classic is only one way Coca-Cola UNITED is working to promote recycling and reduce waste in the communities it serves. From reverse vending machines and 100% recycled bottles to being the first bottler in the Coca-Cola System to pledge its commitment to the Greatest American Cleanup, Coca-Cola UNITED is committed to being a leader in sustainability.

Keep up with Coca-Cola UNITED and learn more about how they’re building a better + more sustainable Birmingham.

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