CharlestonCounty.org
  • Home
  • Online Services
      Online Services icon
    • Tax Records
      • Request My Vehicle Tax Bill iconRequest My Vehicle Tax Bill
      • Pay Taxes & View Records iconPay Taxes & View Records
      • Request My Watercraft Tax Bill iconRequest My Watercraft Tax Bill
      • Out of State Tag Reporting iconOut of State Tag Reporting
      • Address Change iconAddress Change
      • Homestead Exemption iconHomestead Exemption
    • Law Enforcement / Public Safety
      • Who's In Jail (Inmate Search) iconWho's In Jail (Inmate Search)
      • Charleston County's Crime Map iconCharleston County's Crime Map
      • Citizen Alert System iconCitizen Alert System
    • Court Records
      • Circuit Court Case Search iconCircuit Court Case Search
      • Court Plus iconCourt Plus
      • Daybook Search iconDaybook Search
      • Family Court Case Search iconFamily Court Case Search
      • Bondsman Data iconBondsman Data
      • Online Juror Summons iconOnline Juror Summons
      • Expungement Case Inquiry iconExpungement Case Inquiry
      • Estates / Wills Search iconEstates / Wills Search
      • Marriage License Search iconMarriage License Search
      • Marriage License Application iconMarriage License Application
      • Magistrate Records Search iconMagistrate Records Search
      • Master-In-Equity Referral iconMaster-In-Equity Referral
      • Master-In-Equity Foreclosure Auction List iconMaster-In-Equity Foreclosure Auction List
      • Traffic Tickets Payment iconTraffic Tickets Payment
    • Property Records & Permits
      • ROD Document Search iconROD Document Search
      • ROD Day Book Search iconROD Day Book Search
      • GIS Parcel Viewer iconGIS Parcel Viewer
      • Historic Property Record Cards iconHistoric Property Record Cards
      • Apply For/Check Status Of A Building Permit iconApply For/Check Status Of A Building Permit
      • Apply for Building, Zoning & Inspections iconApply for Building, Zoning & Inspections
      • FEMA Flood Maps iconFEMA Flood Maps
    • Resources For Businesses
      • Business License Application iconBusiness License Application
      • Business License Renewal iconBusiness License Renewal
      • Contractor License Renewal iconContractor License Renewal
      • Local Accomodations Tax Application iconLocal Accomodations Tax Application
      • Current Bid Opportunities iconCurrent Bid Opportunities
    • Resources For Residents
      • Residential BiWeekly Curbside Pickup Schedule iconResidential BiWeekly Curbside Pickup Schedule
      • Dropsite and Convenience Centers Locations iconDropsite and Convenience Centers Locations
      • Public Works Work Order Request iconPublic Works Work Order Request
      • View Voting Locations  iconView Voting Locations
  • By Topic
      Topics icon
    • Taxes
    • Property & Permits
    • Courts
    • Business
    • Residents
    • Emergency
    • Law Enforcement
    • Code Enforcement
  • Departments
  • Elected Officials
      Elected Officials Icon
    • Auditor
    • Clerk Of Court
    • Coroner
    • County Council
    • Probate Judge
    • Register of Deeds (ROD)
    • Sheriff
    • Solicitor
    • Treasurer
  • Employment
      Employment Icon
    • Benefits
    • FAQs
    • Job Openings & Apply Online
    • Print Application
  • FAQs
  • About Us
      About icon
    • Mission & Values
    • Organizational Chart
    • Diversity Philosophy
    • Title VI Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Financial Reports
    • Ordinances
    • Firsts/Oldest
    • History
    • Office Locations
    • Holiday Schedule
    • Municipalities
    • School District
    • Links
    • Calendar
  • Contact
      Contact icon
    • General Contact
    • FOIA Requests
    • Media Inquiries
  • This is the main menu for CharlestonCounty.org. Please use the right side menu to access the department or section menus. The right side menu will change depending on where you are in the website.

  • Charleston County Council photo Charleston County Council
  • Charleston County Council Info
  • View Homepage >> View Agendas >>
Charleston County, SC
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
      • Responsibilities
      • FAQs
      • Common Terms
      • History
      • Interesting Facts
      • Office Hours
      • User Fee
    • Outreach & Education
      • Buying Recycled
      • Buying Recycled Paint
    • Single Use Plastics Info
      • Environmentally Acceptable Ordinance
      • Single-Use Plastics Guidelines
  • Recycling Schedule
    • Residential Recycling Schedule
    • Business Recycling Schedule
  • Request Containers
  • What To Recycle
  • Programs
    • Residential Single Stream Program
    • Business Recycling
    • Apartment/Condo Recycling
    • Greening Schools Program
    • Event Recycling
    • Recycle Center Tours
    • Hazardous Materials Recycling
  • Drop Off Locations
  • Composting
  • Landfill/Garbage
  • This menu is for the Environmental Management Department. Use the left side menu to access the main menu for CharlestonCounty.org.

Compost Logo

Compost Program

Buy Compost

Food Waste Composting

Local Businesses That Compost

Backyard Composting

Compost Calculator



Charleston County's Composting Program

USCC

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.

School Compost Donation Program

Compost Schools

McGill is proud to be part of the Charleston County community. Charleston County Schools can contact us at beesbest@mcgillcompost.com to inquire about compost donations or discounts for use in projects throughout the district. Examples of projects include athletic field installation or maintenance, plant or vegetable gardens, and general landscaping.

Residential Food Scrap Drop-Off Program

Residential Food Scrap Drop-Off Program

Residents in the Charleston region can recycle food scraps for FREE at participating drop sites. The food scraps are delivered to the Bees Ferry Compost Facility to be recycled into compost. The City of Charleston piloted the program in 2022 and after a successful first year, the County and Folly Beach are joining the effort by adding more drop sites:

Participating Drop Site Locations:

  • Ackerman Park (West Ashley)
  • Corrine Jones Park (Peninsula)
  • Medway Park (James Island)
  • Bees Ferry Convenience Center (West Ashley) – starting 10/1/2022-- Continue past the convenience center. The food scrap drop site is located in the gravel parking lot adjacent to the scale house.Monday - Saturday 7:30am - 6pm. This drop site is gated when closed.
  • Folly Beach Community Center (Folly Beach) – starting 10/1/2022

Residents must sign up at Charleston-SC.gov/Compost to participate.

For more program information, click here.

Program History & Accomplishments

Charleston County has become the largest compost producer in the state and one of the largest on the East Coast. Since the Program's overhaul in 2009, Charleston County has implemented several initiatives that have further improved our composting program:

  • In September 2009, the County banned all yard waste from the Bees Ferry Landfill and now directs it to the Compost Facility. Today, the Bees Ferry Compost Facility diverts100% of the yard waste once sent to the landfill, over 59,000 tons a year.
  • Effective June 1, 2011, the County enacted a yard waste plastic bag ban to ensure the quality of the finished compost product.
  • The County conducted South Carolina's first commercial food waste composting pilot (September 2010 - November 2011), which is now a permanent program permitted by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
  • Charleston County's Environmental Management Department received the 2011 Outstanding Composting or Organics Recycling Program Award during the Carolina Recycling Association's 21st Annual Trade Show and Conference.
  • The facility is the first in the state to be permitted by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to implement two major innovations: (1) using compost as Alternative Daily Cover in the landfill, and (2) conducting a food waste composting pilot. During the first six months of the pilot program, over 500 tons of food waste was processed.
  • In January 2013, the Program earned the United States Composting Council's (USCC) Seal of Testing Assurance (STA), which testifies that the finished compost consistently meets that program's high quality standards.
  • In late 2014, Charleston County Compost joined the SC Department of Agriculture's Certified South Carolina program as part of our commitment to create a local product that serves our community.
  • Charleston County Joined the South Carolina Certified Program which certifies the County's compost as a Certified SC Product. Charleston County is the largest compost producer in the state and one of the largest on the East Coast.
  • In 2020, the compost facility was privatized through a partnership with McGill Environmental Systems.

Bees Ferry Compost Facility & Tour Information

Charleston County began composting yard waste in 1993 at the Bees Ferry Landfill and averaged about 20,000 tons per year. Today the Compost Facility covers 16 acres, employs 4 people, and processes 100% of the yard waste generated and accepted at the landfill, nearly 75,000 tons a year.

Tours of the Compost Facility are provided for school groups, garden clubs and other community organizations. For questions or to set up a tour, please contact the Environmental Management Department at (843)720-7111.

How Is Compost Made?

Composting is the natural method of recycling organics, such as yard and food waste, into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. The County's compost operation is designed to maximize space utilization, allow for fast turnaround of material, and produce a high-quality product in as few as 45 days. Municipal or commercial trucks deliver yard waste generated in the County to the receiving area where it is ground using a horizontal grinder. The material is then transferred to the active composting area and formed into long piles called "windrows". Windrows are spaced four (4) feet apart and 12 feet between each pair of windrows. The space between rows is designed to allow loader and water truck access.

Press

  • Post and Courier, October 2011 Table Scraps Get a New Life: County Turns Restaurant Food Trash into Compost, Cuts Landfill Waste"
  • Post and Courier, May 2012 "From Table to Farm; Johns Island Man Sets Up Business to Haul Food Waste for Compost"
  • BioCycle, October 2012 "Food Waste Composting Progress in the Southeast"
  • BioCycle, January 2013 "Charleston County Fosters Food Waste Composting"
  • Post and Courier, February 2013 "Compost: Black Gold"
  • Charleston Restaurant Association Newsletter March 2014 linked to "Charleston County's Commercial Food Waste Recycling Program" video
  • Local Palate blog post, March 2014 "From Restaurant Kitchen to Your Bed of Begonias"
  • BioCycle, May 2014 "Food Scraps Diversion Goes to School"
  • Biocycle, August 2020 "New Operator At County Composting Facility In South Carolina"
  • ABC News 4, August 2020 "Composting product for sale at Bees Ferry Landfill starting Monday"
  • ABC News 4, August 2020 "New compost operation launches in Charleston County"

Testimonials

"Farmers must know soils and which crops grow best in which fields. We at Rosebank Farms have to date purchased 200 tons of compost from Charleston County's Bees Ferry Landfill and have spread it on our fields. The compost allows us to reduce commercial fertilizers and build our soil at the same time. This compost is an example of a local product that has all the bells and whistles of an environmentally green product and it is inexpensive. Everyone who has a lawn, a flower bed or a vegetable garden should take advantage of the Black Gold of Charleston County."
- Sidi Limehouse, Rosebank Farms

"The Bees Ferry Compost Facility is a great example of local government responding to a global problem. Outside of the composting world, few are aware of the dangers of landfilling organics, especially in the Southeast. Charleston County has diligently mounted campaigns to not only increase the number of businesses diverting their organic waste, but also to make the finished compost readily available and affordable to residents, community gardens, local farmers, landscapers, and other county and state departments. One can often hear folks remark on what a great product this compost is compared to the mulch that was being produced only a few short years ago."
- Wayne Koeckeritz, Food Waste Disposal

"Wild Olive is very proud to be the first Certified Green Restaurant in the State of South Carolina and our composting program was the single largest factor in helping us to achieve that certification. We compost approximately one thousand pounds of food and paper waste every week and not only is it good business but we feel we are doing our part to help our local environment. The Charleston County Composting Program has made this process effortless and has helped us to not only be a farm to table restaurant, but a table to farm restaurant as well."
- Jason Parrish, Wild Olive Restaurant

compost

/ˈkämˌpōst/

Noun

  1. decayed organic material (such as leaves and food scraps) which is used to improve the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of soils.

Verb

  1. to change organic materials into compost.

Municipalities

City of Charleston
City of Folly Beach
City of North Charleston
City of Isle of Palms
Town of Awendaw
Town of Hollywood
Town of James Island
Town of Kiawah Island
Town of Lincolnville
Town of McClellanville
Town of Meggett
Town of Mount Pleasant
Town of Ravenel
Town of Rockville
Town of Seabrook Island
Town of Sullivan's Island

Go to top

Additional Resources

Arts & Entertainment
CARTA Transit System
County Library
County Parks
Transportation Sales Tax
School District
Charleston Community Guide

Sex Offenders Search
Identity Theft Info
Traffic Cam
Make-A-Wish Car Donation
United Way 24hr hotline
Visitor Information

Employee Resources

Employee Online
Go to top

Social Media

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Vimeo
Instagram
Linkedin

Site Translation

Go to top

E-mail your comments or questions about this site to publicinfo@charlestoncounty.org
Report technical problems with this site to webmaster@charlestoncounty.org

This is the official web site for Charleston County Government.
Copyright © 2000-2023, Charleston County, South Carolina. All rights reserved.
Legal Disclaimer | Refund Disclaimer | Privacy Policy

Fixed footer :-)