For Residents

The cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are taking steps to offer more environmentally friendly programs and services. Residents can join in ensuring the sustainability of our exceptional natural assets by reducing, reusing and recycling where possible. Here are some programs already in place. Start doing your part now and spread the word! 

Cooking Oil = Biodiesel

Your discarded cooking oils can be transformed into bio-diesel for municipal vehicles.

One gallon containers for disposal of your used cooking oil are available from both the City of Gulf Shores and the City of Orange Beach. Pick up an empty one and bring it back full. This recycling effort not only fuels municipal vehicles but also helps prevent blockages and failures in plumbing systems. 

Bins for pick up and return of containers are located at the following locations in:

In Gulf Shores:	In Orange Beach:
Gulf Shores Utilities, 149 East 16th Avenue City Hall Annex, Clubhouse Drive Meyer Park, lift station on East 3rd Craft Farms, clubhouse parking lot Johnnie Sims Park, lift station at West 22nd & West 3rd Peninsula Golf Club more information For questions call 251-968-6323 or email Gulf Shores Utilities	Public Works, William Silvers Parkway Winn Dixie, Perdido Beach Boulevard Community Center, Canal Road     For questions call 251-981-2601 or email TTucker@cityoforangebeach.com

Curbside Recycling

Curbside recycling in Orange Beach takes place on Wednesdays, using a two-zone system, with 95 gallon carts being emptied at citizens’ homes.  view Zone Map

Citizens were encouraged to throw all recyclable materials into the container, no sorting required. 

 

Gulf Shores curbside recycling is picked up throughout the city on Wednesdays. For information or to receive a recycling bin, contact Allied Waste by phone, 968-5828, or email.

 

 

 

Bulk Recycling Stations

Community Recycle Stations are available for bulk disposal of paper/cardboard, plastics and aluminum. Locations are:

In Gulf Shores: Clubhouse Drive, between Whitney Bank and the Courthouse

In Orange Beach: At City Hall, Golf Center, Justice Center, Library, Public Works and the Sportsplex. 

Beach Etiquette 

Be sure to do all you can to preserve and protect our beautiful and valuable natural resources. Remember these beach etiquette tips and share them with friends and family when visiting our shoreline.

• Avoid walking on vegetation; plant roots hold the fragile dunes together.
• Explore away from bird nesting areas. Human presence can frighten adult birds causing them to leave their young unattended.  Nests may be located in the ground and camouflaged to resemble the surrounding environment; you can easily step on them.
• Dispose of all your trash and garbage properly.  You can even pick up others’ trash along the way.  Fish, birds, sea turtles and mammals can become entangled in fishing line. Plastic bags floating in the water resemble jellyfish; sea turtles can mistakenly eat them. You could even plan a visit during the Annual Coastal Cleanup each September.
• Invest in a reusable bag to carry your shopping purchases to avoid using plastic bags. You’ll be stylish and create less waste!
• Consider the best type of transportation to see the Island– your feet! Walking is not only a great form of exercise; it is eco-friendly and a great way to get to know the Island.
• Keep the natural ecosystem intact by avoiding the removal of shells, driftwood or other items you may find during your island explorations.

Be Sea Turtle Friendly!

Turtle nesting season is from May-October and you can help protect this magnificent creature by doing the following:

•  Avoid using flashlights or flash photography on the beach at night.
•  Turn off outside patio lights and turn off all lights inside when not in use at night.
•  Do not disturb turtle nests
•  If you leave your beach chairs and toys on the beach overnight, but sure to pile the items together so that turtles don’t get tangles in your beach equipment.

Be Dolphin Smart

Viewing wild dolphins in their natural habitat can be a thrilling experience. However, when we approach wild dolphins too closely, move too quickly, or make too much noise, we increase the risk of disturbing their natural behaviors, such as migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, and sheltering.

Dolphin are hunters, not beggars, but when people offer them food, they quickly learn begging behavior and lose their fear of humans, resulting in injuries to the dolphin from contact with vessels and from loss of survival skills.

For these reasons, the Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits harassing, hunting, capturing, killing or feeding dolphin. Be Dolphin Smart and follow these guidelines:

• Stay at least 50 yards from dolphins
• Move away cautiously if dolphins show signs of disturbance
• Always put your engine in neutral when dolphins are near
• Refrain from swimming-with, touching, or feeding wild dolphins
• Teach others to be Dolphin SMART

Be a Clean Boater

Take the Clean Boater Pledge: "I pledge to be a Clean Boater and follow Best Boater Practices (BBPs) to keep oil, sewage, toxic boat cleaning and maintenance products, plastics, cigarette butts and other trash, fishing gear and invasive species out of the water."

Consider using marinas that fly the Clean Marina flag. To learn more about the Mississippi-Alabama Clean Marina Program, visit the Clean Marinas web site. Check out the Tips for Clean Boaters while you’re there.

Stow That Line

Used fishing line is harmful to wildlife and to boat motors, but it can be recycled. Monofilament fishing line is non-biodegradable and lasts about 600 years in the aquatic environment. Even fishing line that is thrown in the garbage can end up in the environment by blowing out of the garbage can or landfill, or by being taken out by birds or animals, so please dispose of your fishing line responsibly. Look for monofilament recycling containers at marinas, boat ramps and tackle shops.