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Your Guide to
Sensible Disposal
in Fairhope, Alabama

Once you’ve decided to discard an item, it’s important to ensure that materials can be reused, recycled, or disposed of safely. This guide is designed to help residents of Fairhope, Alabama manage waste responsibly by outlining proper disposal methods for a variety of common items.

 

*Disposal options are listed with the BEST choices FIRST!*

ALUMINUM

Soda cans, beer cans, aluminum foil, foil pie tins & serving dishes

Disposal Options:

APPLIANCES (Large)

Refrigerators, washing machines, freezers

Disposal Options:

APPLIANCES (Small)

Microwaves, toasters (not electronics)

Disposal Options:

BATTERIES (Car or Boat)

Car batteries, marine batteries

Disposal Options:

BATTERIES (Household)

AA, AAA, B, C, D, Watch batteries

Disposal Options:

BEDDING (Sheets & Blankets)

Sheets, blankets, comforters

Disposal Options:

BEDDING (Pillows)

Sleeping pillows, not decorative

Disposal Options:

CANS (Aluminum or Tin)

Soda cans, beer cans, vegetable cans, pet food cans

Disposal Options:

CARDBOARD

Shipping boxes, pizza boxes, cereal boxes

Disposal Options:

CATALOGUES & MAGAZINES (Glossy)

Catalogues with glossy or shiny paper, paper coated with PFAS*

​

Reduce catalogue waste by going to CatalogueChoice.com to opt out or contact the company directly

Disposal Options:

  • Swap magazines with a friend or neighbor

  • Donate to Fairhope Public library or other library or school

  • Fairhope Curbside Garbage (goes to Magnolia Landfill)

​

*Paper coated in PFAS or "forever" chemicals should not be recycled or composted, they should be placed in the landfill to prevent these chemicals from getting into our soil and water. If you aren't sure if paper has PFAS coating, put a drop of water or oil on it. If the water/oil beads up in a sphere shape, it contains PFAS. Learn more about the bead test and PFAS here. 

CATALOGUES & MAGAZINES (Matte)

Catalogues and/or magazines with matte or non-PFAS paper

​

Reduce catalogue waste by going to CatalogueChoice.com to opt out or contact the company directly

Disposal Options:

COOKING OIL & GREASE

Cooking oil, bacon grease, ground beef drippings

Disposal Options:

COSMETICS & TOILETRIES

Makeup, eyeliner, cosmetics, lotions, serums, small pumps, droppers

Disposal Options:

ELECTRONICS (See PHONES for more options)

Televisions, cell phones, laptops

Disposal Options:

  • Drop off @ Fairhope CHaRM Center 20609 Bishop Rd - $5 ea

  • Return to vendor for refurbishment or disposal

EYE GLASSES

Prescription, reading, sunglasses

Disposal Options:

FOOD & FOOD SCRAPS

Food, food scraps, paper to-go containers, paper napkins

​

Compostable food waste SHOULD NOT be placed in landfill

Disposal Options:

  • Compost @ Home

  • Take to local Compost Hub for composting (Coming soon!)

GLASS (Small)

Pasta sauce jars, wine bottles, etc.

Disposal Options:

GLASS (Large)

Plate glass, window glass

Disposal Options:

HAZARDOUS WASTE (Residential)

Chemicals, liquids, pesticides, gasoline, transmission fluid, engine oil

Disposal Options:

JUNK MAIL (Glossy)

Junk mail with glossy or shiny paper, paper coated with PFAS*

​

Reduce future junk mail waste by going to DMAchoice.com or OptOut Prescreen to opt out of certain types of junk mail

Disposal Options:

​

*Paper coated in PFAS or "forever" chemicals should not be recycled or composted, they should be placed in the landfill to prevent these chemicals from getting into our soil and water. If you aren't sure if paper has PFAS coating, put a drop of water or oil on it. If the water/oil beads up in a sphere shape, it contains PFAS. Learn more about the bead test and PFAS here. 

JUNK MAIL (Matte)

Mail, envelopes with plastic windows removed, postcards

​

Reduce future junk mail waste by going to DMAchoice.com or OptOut Prescreen to opt out of certain types of junk mail

Disposal Options:

LIGHTBULBS

Incandescent, CFL, LED

Disposal Options:

MAGAZINES & CATALOGUES (Glossy)

Magazines with glossy or shiny paper, paper coated with PFAS*

​

Reduce catalogue waste by going to CatalogueChoice.com to opt out or contact the company directly

Disposal Options:

  • Swap magazines with a friend or neighbor

  • Donate to Fairhope Public library or other library or school

  • Fairhope Curbside Garbage (goes to Magnolia Landfill)

​

*Paper coated in PFAS or "forever" chemicals should not be recycled or composted, they should be placed in the landfill to prevent these chemicals from getting into our soil and water. If you aren't sure if paper has PFAS coating, put a drop of water or oil on it. If the water/oil beads up in a sphere shape, it contains PFAS. Learn more about the bead test and PFAS here. 

MATTRESSES

Mattresses, bedsprings, futons

Disposal Options:

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Arm slings, crutches, walkers

Disposal Options:

MEDICATION

Prescription, over-the-counter

Disposal Options:

  • Drop off in box near pharmacy at Walgreens 2 S Greeno Rd, Fairhope

  • Drop off in box near pharmacy at Walmart 10040 County Rd 48, Fairhope

NEWSPAPER

Newpapers, Lagniappe, coupon inserts

Disposal Options:

PAINT

Residential, spray paint cans

Disposal Options:

PAPER

Printer paper, construction paper, colored paper, cardstock

Disposal Options:

​

*Paper coated in PFAS or "forever" chemicals should not be recycled or composted, they should be placed in the landfill to prevent these chemicals from getting into our soil and water. If you aren't sure if paper has PFAS coating, put a drop of water or oil on it. If the water/oil beads up in a sphere shape, it contains PFAS. Learn more about the bead test and PFAS here. 

PAPER BAGS

Gift bags, brown paper grocery bags, lunch bags

*REMOVE HANDLES, LABELS, GLITTER

Disposal Options:

PAPERBOARD & BOX BOARD

Cereal boxes, pasta boxes, soda boxes

Disposal Options:

PHONES & TABLETS

Iphones, Tablets, Smartphones, Headphones, Airpods

Disposal Options:

PLASTIC BAGS

Grocery bags, Ziploc bags, soft plastic wrappers

Disposal Options:

PLASTIC CONTAINERS

Plastics 1-7 milk jugs, soda bottles

NO STYROFOAM, TARPS, OR PLASTIC BAGS

Disposal Options:

PLASTIC PLANT POTS

Plastic pots from garden centers

Disposal Options:​

POUCHES (Juice or applesauce)

Juice pouches, applesauce pouches

Disposal Options:​

PRINTER INK & TONER

Printer ink cartridges, toner

Disposal Options:

RUGS

Area rugs, throw rugs

Disposal Options:

SHOES

Running, children's, etc.

Disposal Options:

STYROFOAM

To-go containers, cups, egg cartons

Disposal Options:

TANKS

Propane tanks, fire extinguishers

Disposal Options:

TIN CANS

Vegetable cans, pet food cans

Disposal Options:

TIRES

Car tires, truck tires

Disposal Options:

TOILETRIES & COSMETICS

Makeup, eyeliner, cosmetics, lotions, serums, small pumps, droppers

Disposal Options:

TONER & PRINTER INK

Printer ink cartridges, toner

Disposal Options:

WAXED PAPER

Ice cream boxes, milk cartons, juice boxes, wax paper

Disposal Options:

WRAPPING PAPER (Shiny)

Metallic, shiny, or glittery wrapping paper

Disposal Options:

WRAPPING PAPER (Matte)

Wrapping paper without PFAS*

Disposal Options:

​

*Paper coated in PFAS or "forever" chemicals should not be recycled or composted, they should be placed in the landfill to prevent these chemicals from getting into our soil and water. If you aren't sure if paper has PFAS coating, put a drop of water or oil on it. If the water/oil beads up in a sphere shape, it contains PFAS. Learn more about the bead test and PFAS here. 

YARD WASTE

Leaves, tree limbs, grass clippings

Disposal Options:

  • Compost @ Home

  • Take to local Compost Hub for composting (Coming soon!)

  • Fairhope Curbside Yard Waste Pickup (In Fairhope, goes to yard waste landfill. It does NOT get composted.)

Updated June 11, 2026

*WHAT NOW? is a community service of Sarah Bogdanovich, LICSW and is not endorsed or sponsored by any government entity or company. Users should confirm information provided.*

Have a question, addition, or correction? LET US KNOW!

Thank you for helping improve waste management in Fairhope!

SARAH BOGDANOVICH

Sarah Bogdanovich, LICSW does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information, please contact us. 

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