Environmental Management

Charleston County Environmental Management conducted a waste composition study in 2009-2010, revealing that over 20% of the County's waste stream consists of organics, such as yard waste and food scraps. Charleston County Council set a vision for saving valuable landfill space and recycling organic waste by maximizing the County's compost facility.

Charleston County began composting yard waste in 1993 and averaged about 20,000 tons per year. Today the compost facility is located in West Ashley and processes 100% of the yard waste generated and accepted at the landfill, nearly 75,000 tons a year. Additionally, the County was the first in the state to initiate food waste composting.

Charleston County's composting program is a vital part of the County's integrated solid waste management program and a key part of the County's goal to develop the premier solid waste management program in the Southeast. Diverting organic material for composting conserves landfill space and supports County Council's 40% recycling goal.

In January 2013, the program earned the U.S. Composting Council's (USCC) Seal of Testing Assurance (STA), which testifies that the finished compost consistently meets that program's high quality standards. Two years later at the USCC conference in Austin, Texas, Charleston County was awarded the 2014 USCC Compost of the Year Award.

In 2020, the compost facility was privatized through a partnership with McGill Environmental Systems.