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Beaufort County to pilot in-house composting program, unveils mascot 'Mossy'
Summary
County staff said a USDA-funded compost pilot will operate at the Shanklin Road public works campus with an in-vessel unit to be installed in November; outreach will begin at four convenience centers and the county unveiled a mascot, "Mossy," as part of education efforts.
Miss Hoffman (county staff) told the Public Facilities committee the county will run an in-house composting pilot at the Shanklin Road public works campus after an initial private partner withdrew. The project uses an in-vessel unit and staff have applied for a conditional exemption that allows operation under state rules. Installation of the composting unit is planned for November; initial drop-off sites will include Shanklin, Saint Helena, Hilton Head and Bluffton convenience centers.
Miss Hoffman said the project combines USDA grant funds, state DES funds and Beaufort County funds for procurement and outreach. She described outreach to schools and local businesses as a central part of the grant-funded work and said the county will test finished compost before recommending wider agricultural use. “We are excited to introduce to you our new mascot for our composting program,” Miss Hoffman said, introducing “Mossy,” a character developed with local cultural input and designed to support family and school outreach.
Staff described the procurement timeline: funds became available in mid-2024, procurement and equipment purchases were delayed but completed, and the county expects to outfit centers and complete installation by late 2024. Staff acknowledged initial partner challenges and said in-house operation will include public education to improve participation and acceptance of food-waste diversion.
Next steps: staff will complete site prep, install the in-vessel unit in November, publish outreach materials and begin community education at schools and business outreach to promote local composting.
