Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County Receives Prestigious William Gerald Hardy Project of the Year Award for Its Material Recovery Facility

The Alabama Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has presented the William Gerald Hardy Project of the Year Award to the Solid Waste Disposal Authority (SWDA) of Baldwin County, Alabama, in recognition of its Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and Waste & Recycling Adventure Center. The award, announced during the Alabama SWANA Fall Forum held November 5–7 at Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge, honors solid waste projects that demonstrate excellence in solid waste management through environmental stewardship and community involvement.

The $27 million, 62,000-square-foot MRF represents a landmark achievement in sustainable waste management. Since 2021, LaBella has partnered with SWDA to provide planning, design, grant funding, regulatory permitting, and construction oversight. The project has become a model of innovation and efficiency for Baldwin County and the state of Alabama. By processing recyclables locally, the facility reduces transportation costs and emissions, increases recycling rates, and strengthens Alabama’s manufacturing industries with reliable feedstock materials.

The MRF has already delivered significant environmental and economic benefits, supplying Alabama’s pulp and paper, metals, and plastics industries with locally generated materials. The facility exemplifies environmental leadership and supports the growth of a circular economy across southwestern Alabama.

Click here to learn more about the Baldwin County MRF project.