Business Recycling

Charleston County's Environmental Management Department strongly encourages all businesses to recycle. Businesses can reduce their solid waste fees and garbage collection costs by removing recyclables from their garbage volume.

How to Get Started

There are several ways businesses can recycle in Charleston County based on their needs:

Using a Residential Pick-up Route
Many businesses are located on a residential recycling curbside pick-up route and can participate by putting their recyclables in blue bins out by the curb. The recyclables will be picked up on the designated day for that area every two weeks.

Using Convenience Centers and Drop Site Locations
For some businesses, taking recyclables to one of the over 50 recycling drop sites located throughout Charleston County is easier. Click here to find the nearest convenience center or drop site to your business.

Using a Private Recycling Hauling Service
Sometimes the savings is so significant that a business can warrant paying a private hauler to provide recycling service. There are several private recycling haulers in Charleston County that will pick up a business's recyclables at a set cost.

Contact Us

Charleston County wants to help your business determine the best way to recycle based on your needs. To contour a recycling program for your business, contact the Environmental Management Department at (843) 720-7111 or e-mail.

More Info

Business Success Stories:

	The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company located on Market Street in downtown Charleston, knows the meaning of being green. Sean Bail, restaurant manager, says that recycling is important to the company because being environmentally conscience and doing their part helps make the Earth a better place for everyone. They recycle all paper at the restaurant and take the bins to the Charleston County Recycling Center every other week.

	Software Solutions and Designs, Inc. located in West Ashley, has been recycling for two and a half years. Sean Marino (pictured above left), Director of Media Relations for the company, started the recycling program because he said he has always been eco-conscience. "I'm concerned about the issues facing our environment, and I believe in the value of recycling," said Marino. Software Solutions and Designs, Inc. recycles paper, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, print cartridges, electronics and CFL light bulbs. Marino takes the recyclable items to either a nearby drop site or the Bees Ferry Landfill. He takes the print cartridges to Office Depot to be recycled.

	Tidelands Bank has had an easy time with recycling because most of the people who work there embrace it and are active recyclers at home. Its two locations in Mount Pleasant and the one in West Ashley recycle. Tidelands started the program in January 2007. Their recycling bins are located in the copy/mail rooms and kitchens. The company recycles everything that Charleston County Recycling accepts. "It is a small part we can all play in conserving resources that are becoming depleted," said Michelle White, Deposit Operations Specialist.

	The Buist Moore Smythe McGee P.A. law firm is not new to recycling. It has been recycling paper for about 10 years. But in the past year, staff started recycling cans, bottles, cardboard and anything else that can be recycled. They have about 100 bins at their law offices, and they take the items to the recycling center once a week. Kristen Stables, the administrative services manager, spearheaded the recycling mission. "It is important to us to recycle because we create a tremendous amount of paper in our field of work, and we want to take strides to reduce the amount of waste we create. We want to do our part in the community," said Marketing Manager Aimee DuRant.

	The East Cooper Medical Center does a phenomenal job of recycling with the help of its very own Green Team. The Green Team is made of employees who volunteer to take the recycling items to the drop site located in the back of the hospital. They recycle everything they can in over 30 bins located throughout the hospital. The Green Team volunteers go around the hospital about once a week and empty the containers. The hospital has noticed a cost savings in its trash disposal bill, which has been a big incentive for the hospital to continue its initiatives. The program started in the spring of 2008. "We are passionate about protecting our environment, saving natural resources and conserving landfill space," said Delores Minnix, leader of the Green Team.

	Moe's Crosstown Tavern, located in downtown Charleston on Rutledge Avenue, recycles so much that its staff is driving to the Charleston County Recycling Center every other day to drop off recyclables. It has cut the size of its dumpster in half, and, in turn, cutting its trash bill in half. "It just makes sense, business-wise, to recycle," said Greer Farrell, a bartender at Moe's Crosstown Tavern. "We have noticed that the community appreciates it, and we like to promote good habits."

	Charleston International Airport, went above and beyond to make sure they make a good impression on visitors and locals who fly in and out of Charleston County. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control helped to purchase permanent recycling bins and place them throughout the airport. The airport contacted the Charleston County Environmental Management Department for a drop site to be placed next to its trash dumpster. Now, airport staff empty the recycling bins themselves and take the recycling out to the drop site, just the same as if they were emptying the trash.

Business Recycling for Electronics and Household Hazardous Materials

The Charleston County Environmental Management Department cannot accept electronics and hazardous materials from businesses because the recycling program is mandated for residential properties only. Businesses can call private hauling companies who recycle electronics and/or hazardous materials to help them recycle their electronic recyclables in bulk. Call the Environmental Management Department at (843) 720-7111 for more information.

Construction and Demolition Materials from Businesses

The Charleston County Environmental Management Department cannot accept construction materials from businesses. There are a number of other construction and landfill locations in the area available for businesses to drop off these materials. Call the location in advance to find out if there are any stipulations:

Barr Construction and Recycling
2371 Rifle Range Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
(843) 884-1024

Berkeley County Landfill
2277 Hwy. 52
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
(843) 761-1782 (Convenience Site)
(843) 761-8817 (Solid Waste Building)

Carolina Landfill
355 Harrison Road
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 462-2401
(843) 576-1100

Oakridge Landfill
2183 Hwy 78
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 563-2607

Spring Grove Landfill
6810 Collins Rd.
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 767-2445

W. Fraizer Construction
7050 Moberry Road
Ravenel, SC 29470
(843) 556-8784

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control would like to know about businesses that recycle.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control's (DHEC) new system, Biz-TRAC, is a free, confidential service that allows organizations to track solid waste disposal and recycling data as well as disposal costs and recycling revenue and costs. Biz-TRAC also allows organizations to generate reports on solid waste management and environmental impacts.

Click here for more information about DHEC's Biz-TRAC program.