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Staff reports e‑waste scheduling, litter‑control metrics and Earth Day plans; public raises Buckingham Landing reuse and abandoned barge
Summary
Solid Waste & Recycling staff told the board that e‑waste will move to an appointment model (saving about $100,000 annually), reported 889 bags (~25,000+ pounds) of trash collected in March, and previewed Earth Day events; a public commenter asked the board to pursue reuse of a county‑owned Buckingham Landing building while officials said the state will fund removal of an abandoned barge estimated at $30,000–$50,000.
Solid Waste & Recycling staff provided operational updates at the April 9 meeting, describing changes to e‑waste collection, recent litter control results and upcoming events.
Victoria Hoffman (Solid Waste & Recycling) said the department is shifting e‑waste collection to an appointment scheduling model, which staff estimate will save roughly $100,000 annually because manufacturers now help fund e‑waste recycling through a state clearinghouse. She said appointments will be bookable online with multiple weekly drop‑off days available at locations including Beaufort and Bluffton.
Jesus Rodriguez, assistant superintendent of Solid Waste & Recycling, summarized litter control activity: "We collected 889 bags of trash that accumulates to over 25,000 pounds of trash," he said, and noted an additional roughly 4,000 pounds of bulk waste (furniture, automotive parts and construction materials) collected during monthly operations. Rodriguez also described improvements in warehouse layout and inventory controls to cut costs and improve supplies management.
Staff reminded the board that Beaufort County Earth Day events are set for April 24 and said the county will pursue near‑zero‑waste practices at public events using reusable water stations rather than pallets of bottled water.
During public comment Christine Murphy asked the board to consider converting an abandoned, county‑owned building in Buckingham Landing into green space. Board members said Beaufort County currently owns the property and is assessing future county uses; they offered to prepare a landscape plan and follow up with planning staff.
Chris Campbell also reported that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is arranging removal of an abandoned barge on Mackay Creek. He quoted the agency’s estimate for removal as "a $30,000 to $50,000 removal cost," and said the county will not be expected to pay for the work.
Next steps: staff will publish appointment scheduling details for e‑waste on the county website, finalize Earth Day logistics, and follow up with planning and county contacts about Buckingham Landing reuse possibilities.
