Beaufort County staff outline USDA‑funded compost pilot, budget shifts and recycling changes

Victoria Hoffman of the Beaufort County Solid Waste and Recycling program presented the department's FY25 review and plans at the advisory board meeting, saying a USDA-funded compost pilot is expected to launch in November 2025 and that the county has procured an in‑vessel composting unit for on‑site processing.

Hoffman summarized the department's FY25 costs and drivers, saying disposal, hauling and recycling remain the largest line items and that the department exceeded some budgeted percentages because it did not receive all requested funding for the year. "This is not yet our final fiscal year cost for them," she said. She also said the FY26 budget request was approved and that solid waste was moved back into the county general fund and is now administered under Public Works, with fleet and facilities assuming some equipment and facility costs.

The county signed new contracts for disposal and recycling, Hoffman said: a new agreement with Waste Management for Hickory Hill MSW disposal and a processing contract with I2 for recyclables. She described the new recycling vendor as more transparent about commodity sales and rebates and gave a recent example of processing and hauling costs: processing about $26,700 and hauling about $25,000 in June, with a $7,300 rebate, leaving roughly a $44,700 net shortfall for that month.

On the compost pilot, Hoffman said the county secured USDA grant funding, engaged HDR as an on‑call consultant and procured an in‑vessel unit from Green Mountain Technologies, with delivery expected in October or November. "Our expected launch date is, November 2025," she said. The pilot collection will begin at four centers (Shanklin, St. Helena, Hilton Head and Bluffton) and the county will apply for a conditionally exempt permit to operate the pilot at its public works campus at 120 Shanklin Road. Site prep steps include installing a concrete pad, electrical service and weatherproof storage for feedstock and curing piles.

The board discussed outreach and incentives. Hoffman said the county contracted Moondog to create outreach materials and a compost mascot, and that the first round of collection containers (referred to in the meeting as "compost crocs") was ordered through state and grant funds. There was conflicting figure reporting during the discussion: one board member said "2,100 crocs have been ordered through the FY25DS grant," while Hoffman said the county's first round through a state grant covered about 100 units and that additional units were included in USDA funding. Hoffman said the initial round will support seminar participants and outreach and that further purchases would depend on pilot results.

Hoffman also reviewed operational items: contamination of recyclables has fallen after source separation and education, with monthly contamination reports in the "3 to 4% range," she said. The department is moving from quarterly, county‑hosted e‑waste events toward scheduled drop‑off locations in Beaufort and Bluffton to reduce staff time and transportation; the county expects to reduce a prior purchase order from about $100,000 to roughly $50,000 for vendor hosting, and to receive rebates when full semi loads are shipped. For hazardous materials, Hoffman said the county accepts lead‑acid and lithium‑ion batteries at HHW areas but has experienced scavenging and theft at convenience centers and several recent fires linked to batteries; the department plans security cameras, signage and additional education to reduce those risks.

On funding mechanics, Brad Woods (Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island liaison) explained the history of the county's enterprise fund for solid waste, saying prior attempts to fund services with a resident fee failed and that millage‑based enterprise funding fluctuated. He said the CFO advised that relying on millage to support an enterprise fund was inconsistent with state code, so budgeting shifted back to the general fund. "It's really against, state code and law to actually run a to use millage to fund a enterprise fund," Woods said during the discussion.

The department plans next procedural steps: submit the conditionally exempt permit application, complete site prep and electrical work after vendor quotes and Dominion site review, finalize pilot outreach materials and begin collection at the four centers. The advisory board had no formal votes on ordinances or procurements during the meeting; members approved the agenda and minutes and adjourned at the end of the session.

The county will file state recycling reports in September and a full cost disclosure in October as required by South Carolina reporting rules, and staff said they will publish supporting data to the department SharePoint when available.