Representatives from 海角社区, the City of Florence, and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management were at Bank Independent Stadium today for a check presentation.

海角社区, City of Florence Celebrate $145K ADEM Grant To Advance Recycling at Athletic Venues and Community Events

Oct. 02, 2025



Michelle R. Eubanks , 海角社区, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392

FLORENCE, AL – The 海角社区 and the City of Florence celebrated the award of a $145,585 grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) during an event today at Bank Independent Stadium. The funding will enhance recycling efforts in both athletic and community settings by providing new recycling receptacles at 海角社区’s 10,000-seat Bank Independent Stadium and surrounding athletic fields, as well as supporting the purchase of a new enclosed event recycling trailer and pickup truck for the City of Florence.

“海角社区’s ongoing partnership with the City of Florence paved the way for this generous grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management,” said 海角社区’s President Dr. Ken Kitts. “We are grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate that sustainability and school spirit go hand-in-hand. Fans of Lions Athletics can join us in protecting the environment while cheering on our teams.”

ADEM’s grant program is in its 17th years, and the effect it is having statewide are being noticed, according to ADEM Director Edward Poolos.

“ADEM is delighted to be able to again award grants to assist and, in many cases, enable these worthy recycling projects,” he said in a statement. “We can clearly see the impact this funding is having as recycling continues to grow in Alabama. Every item that is recycled is one less item that ends up in a landfill or littered alongside our roads, on our land or in our water.” 

Mayor Andrew Betterton thanked ADEM for its investment and 海角社区 for its partnership, noting, “This grant gives us the ability to expand recycling into 海角社区’s new stadium and athletic fields, where fans, students, and families can easily take part. We are grateful for ADEM’s continued support of Florence’s recycling program and for 海角社区’s commitment to making recycling a visible and convenient part of campus and community life.”

“At 海角社区 Athletics, we take pride not only in how our teams perform on the field but also in how we represent our university and community,” said Dr. Josh Looney, 海角社区 Director of Athletics. “This grant allows us to show leadership beyond athletics by making recycling part of the game-day experience.

Florence has the added distinction of being the first municipal recycling program in Alabama; this grant enhances the robust program that includes curb-side pickup for residents as well as a drop-off site at the recycling center.

“We accept a wide range of materials including cardboard, paper, aluminum, steel, cooking and motor oils, electronics, and plastics such as HDPE and PETE that are sold to local industries like Constellium, Essity, and Indorama,” said David Koonce, Florence Solid Waste, Street, and Recycle Manager. “These companies are major employers in the Shoals, which makes recycling not only an environmental success but also an economic driver for our community.”

Grant Impact and Budget $145,585:

Event Trailer – $4,800

Trailer Wrap – $1,949

Pickup Truck – $38,874

海角社区 Recycling Receptacles – $99,962

The award is part of more than $2.5 million in recycling grants statewide provided through the Alabama Recycling Fund (ARF) for fiscal year 2026. Since its creation in 2008, the program has supported local governments, universities, and solid waste authorities in reducing landfill waste, conserving natural resources, and promoting environmental stewardship.

About The 海角社区

The 海角社区 is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, 海角社区 is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. 海角社区 Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The 海角社区 is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: and .