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Beaufort County expands recycling, launches compost pilot; committee approves grants and compost equipment
Summary
Solid waste staff described new education tools, a local MRF contract, an e-waste scheduling pilot and a USDA-funded compost pilot. Committee approved a Palmetto Pride grant, a municipal waste contract renewal, compost-vessel purchase and other items.
Beaufort County solid waste staff on Feb. 18 briefed the Public Facilities Committee on recycling improvements, an e-waste drop-off pilot and a USDA-funded compost pilot that staff hope will begin food-waste collection at county convenience centers by November 2025.
Why it matters: County officials said the effort aims to reduce landfill tonnage, improve recycling quality and offer residents easier ways to recycle electronics and divert food waste. Staff also asked the committee to approve grants and purchases needed to launch the pilot.
Victoria Hoffman, the county solid waste and recycling program manager, summarized recent changes: the county has added a Recycle Coach education tool on the county website, switched to a new vendor for bulky waste processing to reduce hauling and handling costs, introduced an online scheduling option for e-waste drop-offs (replacing quarterly-only collection events) and contracted with i2Recycle for local MRF operations.
Hoffman described the USDA compost pilot grant the county received and the steps staff are taking. The USDA award is for $273,600, she said, covering equipment and supplies for a pilot and outreach. Staff also reported they have a separate $100,000 award from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services to help outfit the program. As Hoffman described the pilot timeline, she said staff expect to outfit centers with collection bins and infrastructure and "by November 2025, we can start collecting food waste at the centers." She said the county has already procured kitchen collection crocks and educational materials for residents and schools and has engaged a consultant to develop logistics and outreach plans.
Committee members approved several agenda items tied to the solid-waste program. The committee accepted a Palmetto Pride litter-prevention grant for $9,654 and approved a contract renewal with Waste Management of South Carolina for municipal solid waste disposal at current per-ton pricing. The committee also approved a contract award to Green Mountain Technologies for enclosed composting vessels (total contract amount: $165,890; $95,000 of that was allocated from the USDA award and additional funding will be provided from DES grant reimbursement) and a request to purchase six waste compactors for county convenience centers (estimated total purchase cost approximately $480,000; county staff said this purchase will proceed to county council for final appropriation).
Committee members also recommended forwarding a resolution commissioning Jesus Rodriguez as a county solid-waste enforcement officer to the full county council for appointment. Rodriguez introduced himself at the meeting as "the Land and Control Enforcement Officer and the Adopt a Highway coordinator" and later was described by staff as the county's litter enforcement supervisor. Staff said the enforcement role will focus on illegal dumping investigations and coordination with the sheriff’s office rather than armed enforcement at convenience centers.
On recycling operations, Hoffman said the county purchased roll-off containers outright using ARPA funds to lower monthly rental costs and contracted with i2Recycle, a locally based MRF operator, to improve processing and contamination feedback. The county's environmental educator, Valentina (last name not specified in transcript), is working with schools on vermicomposting lessons, classroom materials aligned to state standards and a public outreach campaign that includes a compost mascot and short educational videos developed through a separate agreement with a local vendor.
Hoffman summarized other operational changes: continuing a three-visits-per-week limit at convenience centers to manage traffic and safety, piloting a gate-arm entry system at one center to streamline access, improving signage and partnering with parks and recreation to place recycling bins at ballfields.
The committee approved the Palmetto Pride grant, the Waste Management renewal, the Green Mountain Technologies purchase and the compactor procurement request; each item passed the committee without recorded objection and will proceed through procurement or to county council as required.
