Beaufort County to pilot food‑waste collection at four convenience centers, staff outline phased rollout

Beaufort County Solid Waste staff told the advisory board they will begin a phased pilot to collect residential food waste at four main convenience centers. Victoria Hoffman, Solid Waste and Recycling (S4), said the county will start at Bluffton, Shanklin, Saint Helena and Hilton Head using lock‑equipped roll carts and a code system for trained participants. “Anybody who would like to use our food waste collection, they will need to have a training. They’ll have to take a test and then once you pass the test … you’ll get a code,” Hoffman said.

Why it matters: staff framed the pilot as phase one of a USDA‑funded plan intended to prove operations and build participation before adding more sites. Hoffman said the county plans a second phase in schools (collecting cafeteria waste) and a third phase to engage businesses through a green business plan; businesses would contract third‑party haulers to transport food waste to the county facility.

What the county will use: Hoffman described the in‑vessel unit purchased for the program and demonstrated to the board. “It is a green mountain,” she said, describing a unit with an auger, fans and temperature probes that will allow staff to monitor curing. Staff plan to add a lift to make dumping roll carts easier and will monitor temperatures to meet compost‑quality standards.

Operational details: the county plans to run the pilot in‑house at first, with staff handling collection and processing. Hoffman said the pilot’s roll carts will look like standard curbside carts but include locks; residents who complete training will receive the code that unlocks them. County staff will provide training both in person and online and have assigned a project manager to oversee site design and required concrete pads and awnings.

Funding and next steps: Hoffman said grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture framed the phased approach; staff will continue site design and obtain quotes for infrastructure. If resident participation is insufficient, Hoffman told the board the county will consider beginning the pilot at a school to secure steady food‑waste input. Staff said they hope the program ultimately produces certified, high‑quality compost and possible revenue from sales, but emphasized certification and agricultural use are future goals contingent on meeting technical standards.

The board did not take a formal action on the pilot during this meeting; staff said they will continue outreach and return with operational details and timelines.