Multi-Family Recycling Program

A: Sometimes it is difficult to determine which program a community is better suited for, Charleston County's multi-family recycling program or the County's single family residential recycling program. Typically if a community has shared garbage dumpsters, they will also need shared recycling containers and therefore qualify for the County's multi-family recycling program.

A: Recycling benefits the community and helps the environment in many ways by:

• Saving energy
• Reducing pollution
• Preserving natural resources
• Decreasing the amount of materials buried in landfills
• Minimizing the expansion of landfills in residential areas
• Reducing our reliance on landfills

A: Charleston County offers multi-family communities two types of containers to collect recyclables.

Roll carts have a 95 gallon capacity and are 45" tall, 29" wide, and 34" deep. The number of roll carts that your community needs will be determined by participation rates.

Charleston County offers 8yd, 6yd, and 4yd dumpster style containers as an option for larger complexes participating in the multi-family recycling program. These dumpsters require a vertical clearance of 22 feet.

A: Payment of the Solid Waste User Fee, included as part of your annual Property Tax Bill, funds programs and services that include weekly recycling collection.

A: Paper products accepted include: magazines, books (including paperbacks, textbooks & hardbacks), junk mail, magazines, catalogs, envelopes, newspaper, office paper, greeting cards, wrapping paper, coupons, posters, sticky notes, file folders, shoe boxes, paper egg cartons, paperboard (such as cereal boxes), and corrugated cardboard.

Containers accepted include: plastics bottles and containers, including water bottles, soda bottles, milk jugs, liquid containers, jars and tubs (yogurt, margarine tubs, etc.), detergent and all-purpose cleaner bottles, soap and shampoo bottles, rigid plastic product packaging, such as clean rigid clamshell containers, and plastic cups, aluminum cans & baking pans, clean aluminum foil, steel & tin cans (including empty aerosol cans), and glass jars & bottles.

A: Styrofoam (cups, egg cartons, take-out containers), plastic bags, shredded paper, plastic film & packaging, food waste, yard waste, pet waste, diapers, fabric, clothing, textiles, clothes hangers, garden hoses, syringes, large metal items (such as frying pans and metal pipes), and large plastic items (such as Big Wheels or other children's toys).

Other items include: household hazardous waste and toxic household products, electronics, batteries, light bulbs, tires, motor oil, cooking oil, and paint. These items can be recycled at one of Charleston County's 8 staffed convenience centers. Click here for location details and contact information.

A: Household hazardous waste, motor oil, cooking oil, paint, batteries, light bulbs, tires and electronics may be taken to one of Charleston County's 9 convenience centers. Click here for location details and contact information.

A: Designing your own interior recycling container is easy. Be creative! Residents are encouraged to reuse paper grocery bags to store recyclable paper products. A plastic storage bin or tub can be used for plastic, glass, aluminum and steel containers.

A: Contact your local municipality to inquire about bulky waste. Consider donating unwanted items to charity organizations.

A: Return clean plastic bags to the grocery store. Other options include reusing plastic bags as trash can liners or as pet litter bags when walking your pet.