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Single Stream Program

All-In-One Residential Recycling

Charleston County residential recycling program is single stream instead of separating recyclables by type, residents can combine all paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum and plastic containers into one wheeled roll cart. This cart-based method of recycling is an easier way for residents to recycle. Instead of carrying multiple bins to the curb, residents are able to simply roll a cart to the curb. This state-of-the-art program utilizes automated trucks to collect recyclables that can be placed together in a single roll cart, as opposed to having to separate recyclables into two containers for collection via the old dual stream program. Rather than using two or more 22-gallon curbside bins, the single stream residential recycling program allows residents to use one 95-gallon roll cart collected once every two weeks.

Program History

In January 2011, Charleston County's Environmental Management Department launched a pilot program involving 4,600 homes across the county. The County observed a considerable increase in the amount of recyclable material collected from each residence participating in the All-In-One pilot program. The All-In-One program averaged 21 pounds of recyclable material per home per pickup, a significant increase from the 10 pounds per home per pickup with the standard dual stream curbside bin program. Additionally, following a 6,000 home expansion in October 2011, the County observed participation rates as high as 70% in All-In-One areas, compared with rates averaging 35%-40% for the rest of the County. Based on the success of the pilot, Charleston County continued to incrementally expand the program to include all areas currently serviced on curbside recycling routes, implementing a County-wide program in June 2014.

Collection Guidelines

Proper cart placement makes Charleston County's automated collection safer, cleaner, and more efficient.

Place recycling at the curb by 7am on your recycling day, or the night before
Set your cart at least 3 feet away from cars, mailboxes, and trees or shrubbery.
Make sure the handles of the cart are facing your house.
Only recycling roll carts issued by Charleston County can be used for this program. Old 22-gallon recycling bins or small recycling bins purchased on your own cannot be collected by our trucks at the curb. Feel free to use these bins for recycling stations around your home, but please do not place them at the curb;Charleston County reserves the right to remove small bins that are placed at the curb due driver safety issues.
Charleston County Environmental Management collects material contained inside your recycling cart ONLY. Do not leave material outside of your cart, including cardboard boxes. Please flatten all cardboard boxes and cut them to size, if necessary, and place them inside your cart.

Before you recycle:

Empty and rinse all containers to remove food residue.
Flatten boxboard and corrugated cardboard.

What Can Be Recycled?

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Charleston County Recycling Center at (843)720-7111.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I report a missed recycling pickup?

A: If you suspect that your recycling cart has been missed, please give our crews until the end of the day to service you; they are often out on the routes until late evening. If your cart is full the morning following your scheduled service day, please contact our office. Missed pickups must be reported the day after the scheduled service day.

Q: If it's getting late in the day and I have not seen the recycling truck, what should I do?

A: Please give our crews until the end of the day to service your recycling cart. When there is heavy volume on the routes, our trucks may be out servicing carts until the late evening. If your cart is still full the morning following your scheduled service day, please notify our office. Missed pickups must be reported the day after the scheduled service day.

Q: Why has the truck serviced one side of my street but not the other?

A: For route efficiency, the truck will service one side of the street, then continue on to other parts of the community, often not returning to service the other side of the street for hours. Please give our crews to the end of the day (they are often out until late evening) to service your cart; if your cart is still full the morning following your scheduled service day, please notify our office.

Q: How do I set up new recycling service or request a recycling cart?

A: To request a recycling cart you can submit a request online here, LiveChat with us on this webpage (chat on bottom right of your screen), email us at recycle@charlestoncounty.org, or call us at (843) 720-7111.

Q: My recycling cart is damaged, how do I get a new one?

A: If your recycling cart has been damaged, please LiveChat with us on this webpage (chat on bottom right of your screen), email us at recycle@charlestoncounty.org, or call us at (843) 720-7111 and we will repair or replace it as soon as possible. Please make sure to leave your damaged cart visible and accessible for our crews!

Q: How do I get a second 95 gallon rolling cart?

A: At this time, we are not currently providing additional recycling carts. We will evaluate requests for second recycling carts once Charleston County returns more to business as usual. Please do not leave any material outside of your cart. Overflow recyclable material may be dropped off at any one of Charleston County’s many dropsite locations. Please remember to practice safe social distancing when using these facilities.

Q: How do I find out which day my recycling will be picked up?

A: Steps to identify your next recycling service day:

Visit our online recycle day lookup and click through the blue box to confirm that you are a residential customer (commercial, multi-family, and school customers please contact us at (843) 720-7111).
Type in your address on the upper left.
You will see a map of your home’s location overlayed with a specific color (your color-coded zone), and a white text box will provide you with your next scheduled service day.
For future reference, choose your downloadable PDF schedule based on your location (Downtown or Countywide), then find your color-coded zone on the map. Your specific color-coded service days will be shown on the corresponding map.

Q: How and where can I recycle a specific item?

A: For information on specific items please see our list of what is accepted vs not accepted and our Comprehensive Recycling Guide. If you have a question about an item that is not listed, please email us at recycle@charlestoncounty.org and we will respond as soon as possible.

Q: How can I contact you?

A: We have many ways for you to communicate with us!

LiveChat with us on this webpage (chat on bottom right of your screen)
Email us at recycle@charlestoncounty.org
Message us on our Facebook page
Text HELLO to (843) 800-4121 to chat with CitiBot
Call us at (843) 720-7111

Q: What if I have overflow recyclable material that won’t fit inside the cart?

A: Charleston County Environmental Management collects material contained inside your recycling cart ONLY. Do not leave material outside of your cart, including cardboard boxes. Please flatten all cardboard boxes and cut them to size, if necessary, and place them inside your cart.

Our trucks are fully automated, meaning that the driver uses a side-loading arm that he operates from inside the cab of the truck to dump each cart. The purpose of these trucks is to allow the driver to remain inside the truck whenever possible, both for route efficiency as well as for safety, which is another reason all material needs to be inside the recycling cart.

Please do not place small bins (i.e. Rubbermaid tubs, trash cans, old Charleston County 22-gallon recycling bins) full of recyclables out for pickup.

Any overflow recyclable material you have may be dropped off at any one of Charleston County's many dropsite locations; these locations have large containers that can accept flattened cardboard boxes.

Q: What should I do with cardboard boxes?

A: All material must be contained inside your cart for pickup. Do not leave material outside of your cart, including cardboard boxes. Please flatten all cardboard boxes and cut them to size, if necessary, and place them inside your cart. Make sure to remove any non-recyclable packaging materials such as styrofoam, shrink wrap, etc. Large quantities of cardboard, such as from a move-in, or oversized cardboard boxes may be dropped off at any one of Charleston County's many dropsite locations; these locations have large containers that can accept flattened cardboard boxes.

Q: Where and when should I put my cart for pickup?

A: Please place your cart at the curb no later than 7am on your service day. It is very important that you place your roll cart properly at the curb so the robotic arm can lift it. Face the handles of the card toward your home. Keep a clearance zone of 3 feet around the cart, away from mailboxes, parked cars, trash cans or trees. Keep the lid closed.

Q: How do I get a trash can?

A: Charleston County Environmental Management does not collect trash, bulk waste, or yard waste. These services are managed by the various municipalieis and public service districts (PSDs) throughout the county. For questions about your trash/garbage collection:

City of Charleston: (843) 724-7311
Folly Beach: (843) 588-2447
Isle of Palms: (843) 886-8956
James Island PSD: (843) 795-9060
Kiawah Island: (843) 768-9166
Lincolnville: (843) 873-3261
Mount Pleasant: (843) 849-2022
North Charleston: (843) 745-1026
Republic Services: (800) 235-4237
Seabrook Island: (843) 768-9121
St. Andrews PSD: (843) 556-6310
Sullivan's Island: (843) 883-3198

Q: Can I bag my recyclable material?

A: Do not bag recyclables; keep them loose in your recycling cart, not in paper bags, plastic bags, or boxes. Plastic bags are NOT accepted for recycling. Feel free to utilize a bag to help transport your recyclables from inside your home out to your recycling cart, but please make sure to empty the material loosely into your cart, then reuse/dispose of the plastic bag or recycle the paper bag.

Q: What is single-stream recycling?

A: Instead of separating your recyclables, you can mix them together in your single stream roll cart for automated collection instead of separating out into two separate streams into two containers (dual stream). The sorting is done for you at the recycling center. We make it easier so you'll recycle more!

Q: Why should I recycle?

A: With just a little effort, recycling pays back huge dividends to our community. The benefits of recycling are:

Saves energy
Reduces pollution
Preserves natural resources
Decreases the amount of materials buried in landfills
Minimizes the expansion of landfills in residential areas
Reduces our reliance on landfills