Check our Naughty or Nice Recycling list this Holiday to Reduce, Reuse & Recycle in Beaufort County!
This week is one of the biggest recycling weeks of the year, so the folks at Beaufort County Recycling have put together a naughty and nice recycling list of recyclable holiday materials to help keep our beautiful Beaufort clean!
Even if you’ve been a good recycler all year long, what to do with holiday decorations and gift wrap may present a challenge. Is wrapping paper recyclable? What about Christmas tree ornaments? Tinsel?
Here is a list of what can and can’t be recycled this holiday season…
NICE (recyclable)
Please be sure to recycle “Nice” items at Local Drop-Off Centers – (click here for locations & hours)
Cardboard & Gift boxes
Christmas trees
Tissue paper
Paper & Shoe boxes
Holiday cards/envelopes
Gift bags (if paper)
Wrapping Paper (non-metallic)
Plastic Bottles, Jugs & Jars (ONLY)
Aluminum, Tin & Steel Cans
NAUGHTY (not recyclable)
Christmas Lights
Garland & Tinsel
Ribbon and bows (consider reusing)
Styrofoam
Paper Plates
Bubble wrap (consider reusing)
Metallic wrapping paper (consider reusing)
Anything on the tree
Sticky gift labels
Gift bags if coated, laminated, dyed
Foam peanuts (some UPS stores will accept and re-use)
Extension Cords
Plastic Utensils
Plastic Toys
Please remember that Christmas trees must be stripped of all decorations (tinsel, lights, bells, ornaments, etc.) before the tree can be mulched or composted.
There are creative and practical ways to reuse items that are not recyclable. For example, use sustainable packing materials when packing and sending gifts. Instead of purchasing new foam peanuts, use shredded newspaper or even popcorn. Foam peanuts are made from polystyrene and are usually not recyclable. If you receive foam peanuts in packages, consider reusing them for later shipping.
For those holiday greeting cards, you receive this season, recycle paperboard and paper envelopes. If you just can’t bear to toss them in the bin, use them to make a festive gift tag.
More clever ideas for recycling and reusing holiday materials can be found online – simply search “recycling holiday décor” for a variety of websites with some great information.
Overview of Materials Handling
Beaufort County provides 11 convenience centers located throughout the county where residents can drop off their household solid waste and yard waste. Residential C&D debris is accepted in small amounts at three centers (Shanklin, St. Helena, Bluffton).
Seven (7) of the convenience centers accept recycling materials. Specific information on recycling is available at: General Recycling Info. Commercial businesses are required to contract with a private company for their hauling and disposal needs.
County Convenience Center Operating Hours
All Convenience Centers will remain closed on Wednesdays, for routine maintenance of trash compactors and other equipment.
Group A: Operating Hours/Days
7:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Closed Monday, Wednesday, Friday and County Holidays
- Big Estate, 63 Big Estate Road
- Coffin Point, 10 Cee Cee Road
- Cuffy, 152 Cuffy Road
- Sheldon, 208 Johnson Road
Group B: Operating Hours/Days
7:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Closed Wednesday and County Holidays
- Bluffton, 104 Simmonsville Road
- Gate, 316 Castle Rock Road
- Hilton Head, 26 Summit Drive
- Lobeco, 6 Keans Neck Road
- Pritchardville, 270 Gibbet Road
- Shanklin, 80 Shanklin Road
- St. Helena, 639 Sea Island Parkway
For more information, contact the Solid Waste and Recycling section at 843-255-2736 or visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov/recycle.
Residential Curbside Collection Options – The following private companies offer contracted residential curbside service in unincorporated areas of Beaufort County:
- American Pride (843) 681-8900
- Creek Life Waste Services (843) 338-5128
- Low Country Sanitation (843) 838-4503
- May River Disposal (843) 757-2722
- Republic Services (843) 542-1485
- Sunrise Sanitation (843) 379-8888
- Waste Management (843) 397-7670
- Waste Pro (843) 645-4100
Beaufort County Litter Control Plan
Beaufort County supports the efforts of all volunteer Adopt-A-Highway and Adopt-A-Boat Landing groups. If you would like to report littering, please call 843-255-2734.
Municipalities
City of Beaufort – Telephone: (843) 525-7054
The city of Beaufort offers curbside solid waste and recycling collection to residents. Residents are charged monthly for solid waste that is included on their BJWSA water bill to participate in the program. The initial recycling bins are free and can be obtained by calling the telephone number above.
Town of Port Royal – Telephone: (843) 986-2215
Port Royal offers curbside solid waste and recycling collection to residents. For more information call the number for the Town of Port Royal above.
Town of Bluffton – Telephone: (843) 706-4500
Bluffton offers curbside solid waste and recycling collection to residents. For more information call the number for the Town of Bluffton above. The cost of recycling is paid for through property taxes.
Town of Hilton Head – Telephone: (843) 342-4581 or visit http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/sustainability/recycle
Happy Holidays and thank you for recycling to help keep our beautiful Beaufort, SC clean!
