Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department (EMD) is asking residents to stay green this holiday season through curbside recycling programs and local drop-off centers.
Christmas trees, used cooking oils and other items can be composted (after all decorations have been removed). Some municipalities will pick up trees curbside, or they can be taken to one of Charleston County’s eight staffed convenience centers. Trees that are picked up will be transported to the McGill Bees Ferry Compost Facility to be composted, the county stated.
Used cooking oil can also be dropped off at one of Charleston County’s eight staffed Convenience Centers.
All paper, including gift wrapping, flattened cardboard boxes and other products can be recycled through the county’s curbside program or taken to drop-site locations and Convenience Centers located throughout the County. If you have oversized boxes, cut them down to fit in your blue recycling cart. All material must fit in the cart. Overflow material can also be dropped off at any recycling dropsite.
Staffed convenience centers will be closed Dec. 25 through Dec. 27 and Jan. 1.
Curbside recycling collection will not occur on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week, and crews will work on Saturdays. Carts should be left at the curb by 7 a.m. Find your next scheduled recycling collection day here.
There may be some pickup delays during the holidays due to volume on routes, and crews often work late into the evening. If you think you’ve been missed, wait until the next morning, check if your recycling still has not been collected, then call (843) 720-7111 or text “hello” to Citibot at (843) 800-4121.
For more information on recycling this holiday season, including interactive maps for convenience centers and recycling drop-off sites, visit recycle.charlestoncounty.org.
Charleston County tips to reduce waste
Decorating
- Choose natural or reusable decorations over disposable ones.
- Use LED holiday lights to save money as it reduces energy consumption. LEDs also have a longer lifespan.
- Decorate your tree with household items such as strings of popcorn and berries instead of tinsel.
- Pumpkins and gourds can be composted. If you buy a live tree, recycle it!
Gift Giving
- Recycle all paper including gift wrap, tissue paper, gift bags, boxes and cardboard.
- Buy holiday cards printed on recycled paper. Wrap gifts in newspaper comics or wrapping paper made with recycled content.
- Give sustainable gifts like reusable shopping bags, organic products or experiences that provide memories rather than physical items that may end up in a landfill.
- Shop with reusable bags, and bring a reusable water bottle with you to avoid single-use plastics.
- Support local artisans and small and women- and minority-owned businesses to reduce the carbon footprint of products and support our local economy.
- Avoid purchasing over-packaged items. Drop off packaging material such as Styrofoam peanuts and bubble wrap at your local shipping store; they will gladly reuse it.
- Remember to recycle outdated electronics.
Entertaining
- Use reusable cups, plates and utensils.
- Use cloth napkins and tablecloths instead of disposable ones.
- Recycle and compost at your holiday party.
Cooking
- Compost food waste with yard clippings in a backyard home composting program, or sign up for the region’s free residential compost program and drop off your food scraps anytime at a convenient location near you.
- Purchase only as much food as needed, and be sure to properly store and prepare food to avoid waste generation. Not only will this reduce waste, but it will make your food dollars go further.
- Have a plan for leftovers and store them properly so they can be enjoyed later.
Other:
- Share your sustainable holiday experiences and tips with friends and family to raise awareness and inspire others to make eco-friendly choices.
- Contribute to the local community by volunteering or supporting local charities and causes.
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