By: Claire Tribble
Guess what…RECYCLING is coming back in FULL force to Limestone County! Limestone County residents were left scrambling after the closure of the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center during the summer of 2022, but the Limestone County Commission created a small recycling program to take its place. It’s been a process, but we are finally back on track. Thanks to a grant written by Christa McCurry at the Limestone County Commission, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management has awarded the Commission a $600,000 grant for a building.
When the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center closed, Athens and Limestone County residents lost many services to which they had become accustomed and expected. Thankfully, the Limestone County Commission recognized the need for such a program in Limestone County and came together to hire Keri Chalmers from the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center to lead the department and develop a temporary plan to offer basic recycling services. In an attempt to not only show our support but to enhance their program, Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful donated all of the equipment from the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center.
Keri worked hard to develop a system that was able to function within the limitations of this new department. Initially, she was able to offer a recycling drop-off location at 1301 North Jefferson Street, which is as close to the center of the county as possible. She has been able to accept mixed paper, cardboard, plastics #1 as well as aluminum and steel cans. Electronic recycling, glass recycling, and motor oil recycling have been some of the most missed services. Since opening, Keri has worked hard to find the best solutions to be able to accept more items. She added an oil tank to the lot to accept motor oil — she doesn’t even require you to transfer it to the tank yourself. She also accepts electronics at her current office, located at 100 Cherry Street. She is still unable to accept tube TVs, but anything else she can take.
While Keri was busy working out the logistics of the program, Christa McCurry was working behind the scenes to grow the program. She secured a grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for funding to build a new facility. She was awarded $600,000 for this building, and they are officially breaking ground on June 16 at 11 am. The Limestone County Recycling Department will be located just north of the current drop-off at 1301 North Jefferson Street (the old L&S Grocery shopping center). We are beyond excited as this new recycling opportunity begins to grow for all of Limestone County. Hopefully, it will be bigger and better that ever before. Come out and join us and show your enthusiasm for this great new opportunity for Limestone County.
By: Claire Tribble – Executive Director,
Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful
June 6, 2025
