Love this place. Recently moved in down the street. With all the cardboard from moving, and not yet having a recycling can from the city, I appreciate being able to drop off all my plastic and cardboard recyclables instead of throwing them away. It that it would have fit into my trash bin anyways, which leads me back to why I appreciate that the general public can drop off here.
Other than cardboard, don’t bother bringing anything else here to recycle. Tried tossing plastic and an employee said they don’t take it. Waste of a trip.
Every time I drop off items, there's a rude employee yelling at me to move my car. There's no designated place to park so you never know where to do so.
I wish it were more clear in all these reviews which ones are from individuals and which ones are from commercial/big rig customers. This place services both types of traffic.
If you're just an individual with some residential recycling to drop off, don't be scared off by the many complaints about long wait times, having to drive up on the scales, first come-first served, etc etc. You just drive right in, unload at the single-stream residential bins across from the office, and drive out. No muss, no fuss. We drop off about once a month, and I'm nearly always in and out in 2-3 minutes.
So many pros and cons. The lady at the check in is by far the best pro about the place. Is she a real sweet heart. Can't say enough nice things about her give that girl a raise. Cons.. are a bit more. It's really tight with limited space, trucking's being first come first serve rather than appointments is normally fine but here there's just not the room for that sort of easy going policy. You really need to call before you turn into the yard, depending on how busy it is you may be waiting in the turn lane a while. Pull in get on the scale then check in. Once done with that if docks 1 or 4 aren't open you get as close as possible to the side of the building. I don't know if she always does but the nice lady in shipping came out and directed traffic in the yard when I was back into into a dock. Getting loaded seems to take a while but not long enough that I'll count it as one of the cons. When you're done getting loaded you pull forward and almost leave before you back onto the scale and go in to check out. Getting to and from the location in an 18 wheeler can be a pain in backside this area isn't truck friendly. Also beware the train, I ended up backing up and turning around in the abandoned yard next to the tracks and went around because the train was stopped for over an hour and I was told it could be here all day. Over all not best shipper in the world, but not the worse. Backing in their yard looks worse then it actually is.
Best place to drop off recycling in Birmingham, but not without its drawbacks. Parking is a free-for all, and you frequently have to negotiate trucks coming in and out. They do not take glass or plastic bags, including garbage bags (pictures notwithstanding). Materials do not need to be sorted, though. Depending on which way you're coming from, you may also need to deal with a rail crossing where trains can sit for more than 30 minutes.
Park in turning lane outside gate, call guard house. First come first serve, Extremely tight maneuvering in there and rather slow loading/unloading. I sat outside the gate for 4 hours waiting to get in. Guard house lady is nice though.
I live close by in No. Crestwood and take recyclables there when ever I’ve accumulated a load. I love to be able to recycle so easily and conveniently!
I had several large cardboard boxes to recycle. I pulled up in the front to unload into the bins. An employee told me to take them “around back to the large cardboard pile”. I obliged but as I was driving around back there was tons of smashed “trash” on the ground I had to drive over. My gut kicked in and told me that was probably a bad idea. After I unloaded boxes and left I thought to myself..I really hope I don’t get a flat tire. Well I did. Large nail in my tire. Tried to do the right thing by recycling and ended up inconvenienced and out of a lot of cash. They need to keep the parking area clean. Will not be going back here.
I love this place. The people who work here are friendly and helpful. The hours are convenient, and I appreciate that this service is available. The whole trip is usually quick, and the process itself is straightforward.
The signage for the household recycling is indecipherable. I arrived to empty bins and after several attempts at the hieroglyphics posted kept part of what I brought. Some legible, non cryptic language and clear markings would be a real help.
No place to park trucks.
Can't check in b4 appointment.
Found 6 trucks waiting so better be there 30 minutes before appt.
Lot's of instructions how to Unload.
TRAILER MUST 10 YRS OR YOUNGER.!!! Otherwise they will send you away
They were closed August 30 and 31, so I made a point to call before I went today and make sure they were open until two. I get there at 1:35 and they have changed their hours to close at noon. I am trying to do something right for our environment but this place makes it very difficult!
I’ve been using this company for years, even when they were located downtown. Convenient location and they accept a variety of materials. Taking a picture of their sign and storing it in my phone helps me coordinate my drop off times.
I will update my review if I can ever get into the place. The hours are listed as starting at 9 a.m. on a Saturday. It is 10:30, and the place is totally locked up, and there is not a soul in sight. I came all the way up here from Hoover, hoping to get some glass recycled. I guess it will have to sit around at the house a little longer.
This place accepts all kinds of plastics for recycling - except polystyrene/styrofoam. Dropoff bins near entrance are available for general public. This is a huge operation that receives large trucks as well. They take about everything else too, but I've already been relying on AEC downtown to take tin/aluminum, glass & paper.
Apr 11, 2012
Nearest Junkyards to Birmingham Recycling-Recovery
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