Times and Democrats
The degree of recycling success depends on individual commitment and access/availability at your location. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Management wants to make recycling memorable as a priority We encourage residents to research the best ways to recycle effectively and responsibly.
“We want South Carolinians to be fully aware of proper recycling practices so that their waste and other items can be reused as intended,” says Myra, DHEC’s director of environmental affairs. Reese said. “Often, items are not recycled properly, may not be reused, and unfortunately end up in landfills. I would like to be able to wear it on
Correct recycling is effective in reducing our negative environmental footprint, from physical waste to polluted water to harmful gas emissions. South Carolina’s Recycle Right SC Public Relations Campaign was created in partnership with DHEC and PalmettoPride to provide information on what can be recycled, where to recycle and how to recycle correctly.
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Here are some campaign tips:
• Avoid “hopeful recycling” or attempts to recycle eligible items. This can lead to contamination.
• Find out about local laws and regulations regarding recycling and the best places to drop off your items.
• Avoid using plastic and paper bags and invest in reusable containers instead.
• Make sure items donated for recycling are clean and in good condition.
South Carolina recycling activities from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 include:
• Approximately 1.2 million tons of material from residential and commercial homes and buildings.
• 45% of total reported recyclables came from residents, a recycling rate of 23.9%.
• According to the EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM), the total emissions saved are equivalent to 800,000 passenger cars.
• Saves more than 4.25 million gallons of gasoline, according to WARM, saving about 493,000 households’ annual energy consumption.
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As important as the basics of recycling are to successful recycling, it’s equally important to know the “don’ts”.
When recycling, be careful not to put it in the DHEC “dirty dozen” bins.
• Plastic bags: Reuse, recycle at the grocery store, or donate to a food bank.
• Items that can be bagged: Do not bag recycled items. Keep them in the trash.
• Shredded Paper: Can be equipment in a garbage or jammed recycling facility.
• SCRAP METAL: Some metals damage machines. Most local drop-off sites accept it.
• Hazardous Materials: Check local program options or dispose of properly.
• Flat cans and bottles: retain their original shape to prevent sorting jams.
• Non-recyclable plastics: Check the types of plastics accepted in the program.
• Glass bottle caps: Remove caps and discard before recycling bottles.
• Food and Liquids: Empty and rinse recyclable containers.
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• Non-recyclable glass: Don’t put dishes, light bulbs, windows, etc. in the bin.
• Things like ropes: Hoses, wires and string lights clog sorters.
• Biohazardous Waste: Syringes, diapers, and similar items can damage equipment.
