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RECYCLING FAQ
Recycling Centers |
FAQs |
Know Your Numbers |
COF Public Works
Q: My father says I can be fined for littering if I throw an apple core out of a car window. Is this true?
A: According to Don Arnold, President of the SC Litter Control Officers Association, Biodegradable items such as food are not considered litter. But remember, it is illegal to toss out the paper or bag that the food came in.
Q: I put (fill in the blank) in my recycling bin, but the collectors didn't take it. Why?
A: If your collectors leave something in your bin, chances are that the item is not recyclable in this area. Please check our recycling page to see what items are accepted in your curbside bin, If the item is recyclable, please call the City of Florence Public Works Department to let them know of the mistake, 665-3236.
Fast Fact: Recycled cans take 95% less energy to make than new aluminum cans. The energy saved by recycling one aluminum can could power your television for three house.
ANTIFREEZE
Q: How do I properly dispose or recycle antifreeze?
A: Unfortunately, only a very few local governments accept antifreeze in their recycling programs. Check with your local recycling coordinator to see if antifreeze is collected in your community (and ask them to add the service if it is not) or call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction at 1-800-768-7348.
Your best option may be to check with your car dealer or mechanic to see if they will accept your antifreeze for recycling or proper disposal.
GASOLINE AND OIL, OIL FILTERS AND OIL BOTTLES
Q: How do I properly dispose or recycle old gasoline?
A: Some counties have recycling centers that accept oil/gasoline mixtures (used with some lawn equipment). You would be able to dispose of your gasoline at one of these centers. Check with your local recycling coordinator or call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348 to see if there is an oil/gasoline mixture disposal option in your community.
Your best option may be to check with your car dealer or mechanic to see if they will accept your old gasoline for recycling or proper disposal.
Q: How do I properly dispose or recycle used oil from a car, lawnmower and yard tools?
A: Used oil can be recycled at more than 600 locations throughout the state including sites in each of South Carolina's 46 counties. Those sites include retail outlets such as Advance Auto, Auto Zone and some Jiffy Lubes. If you have further questions, you can call your local recycling coordinator or DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348.
The City of Florence also accepts used, residential oil. For more information regarding oil collection sites, call the Florence Fire Department at 665-3231.
TIRES
Q: How do I properly dispose of waste tires?
A: Most counties have collection programs that accept a minimum number of waste tires (usually about five) at drop-off recycling centers. Check with your local recycling coordinator or call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348 for a drop-off center near you.
BATTERIES
Q: How do I properly dispose or recycle batteries?
A: Alkaline batteries (e.g., CD players, radios, television remotes and toy batteries) can be disposed with your household garbage. Alkaline batteries have been a particular environmental concern because they contained mercury. In the past decade or so, the batteries have been redesigned and no mercury added. The only mercury found in an alkaline battery is naturally occurring trace elements from other metals. In addition, many manufacturers are designing batteries for a longer life.
You can also be a more selective and environmentally friendly consumer. Consider buying rechargeable batteries.
Nickel cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride and lithium ion batteries (e.g., rechargeable batteries for tools, toys, cellular phones, video cameras, digital cameras, hand-held vacuums and laptop computers) can be recycled at many retail stores including Radio Shack, Target, Ace Hardware, Best Buy, Sears, The Home Depot and Cellular One. There are more than 300 retail locations in South Carolina that accept these types of batteries. Visit www.rbrc.com or call 1-800-8-BATTERY for a retail location near you.
Lead-acid batteries (e.g., car and truck batteries) must be recycled in South Carolina. You can recycle your old battery at the retail location where you bought your new battery. There is a $7 fee added to the cost of the battery to ensure that the battery is recycled. If you return your old battery when you buy a new battery, you will receive a $5 credit and only be charged $2.
If you have an old battery that you need to recycle but don't need to buy a new one, there are two options. First, some counties accept lead-acid batteries. Check with your local recycling coordinator or call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348 to see if this service is offered in your community. Second, check with area retail stores, car dealers and auto repair shops to see if they will accept your old battery for recycling.
PROPANE
Q: Why can't I refill my old propane tank? Why do I have to buy an adapter for the old tank or buy a new tank?
A: A new regulation, effective April 1, 2002, will not allow old propane tanks to be refilled without the new Overfill Protection Device (OPD). The OPD has been designed to protect the user from overfilling the tank and propane release.
Q: What can I do with my old propane tank?
A: Buy the OPD valve, have it placed on the tank and then have it refilled. Check with your local propane dealer to see if they can exchange or accept your tank. Some propane dealers may take your old tank to refurbish and reuse it. Some retail chains offer an exchange program at no additional cost.
If you have a tank that is damaged or unable to be reused, DO NOT recycle it or put it in a dumpster. You should check with propane dealers in your community or call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-786-7348 for more information.
PAINT
Q: How do I properly dispose or recycle paint?
A: If the paint can be used, try to donate it to a non-profit group, church or school. Another option is to contact your local recycling coordinator or solid waste management director for the proper disposal methods in your community. Generally, you can prepare your paint to be disposed properly by completing the following steps: (1) Remove the lid and allow the paint to air dry (harden) completely. Make sure you do this in a well-ventilated area away from children and pets. (2) You can add cat litter, shredded newspaper, saw dust or sand to the paint to speed the process. Stir occasionally. (3) Once the paint is dried, you can dispose of it with your household garbage.
UNWANTED MAIL
Q: How do I stop unwanted (junk) mail?
A: To reduce unwanted mail, be sure to check the "do not sell my name" option that most credit card applications and catalogues now offer.
In addition, send a postcard or letter to DMA Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY, 11735-9008 requesting that they remove your name from mailing lists. Be sure to include your name, address, zip code and a request to "activate the preference service." This will stop mail from all member organizations that you have not ordered products from for up to five years.
Q: Can I recycle unwanted mail?
A: It depends. If it is printed on newsprint (like a newspaper insert), you can recycle it with your newspapers. Glossy paper (e.g., magazines and other miscellaneous slick circulars) is commonly accepted in curbside and drop-off programs. If it is regular mail, printed on white paper, you can recycle it with office paper. Office paper is not accepted in most curbside programs. You may be able to take office paper to a local drop-off facility, your office or your child's school.
Fast Fact: For each ton of paper we recycle, 17 trees are saved.
Q: How can I recycle CD-ROMs (i.e., trial Internet connection service) I receive in the mail?
A: Please refer to these contacts supplied by the National Recycling Coalition (NRC):
MRC Polymers c/o DADC Recycling Program
Digital Audio Disc Corporation, 812-462-8323
Nesar: 412-827-8172
Bayer Corp., Plastics Business Group
412-777-2000
Lacerta Group Inc.
617-442-3111
Greenbrier Associates
978-363-5547
Polymer Recovery Services
408-748-9715
Q: What about used 3.5" diskettes?
A: Unwanted diskettes can be donated to USA City Link Project, Attn: Floppies for Kids, 4060 Highway 59, Mandeville, LA 70471.
COMPOST
Q: I would like to compost in my backyard? Where can I get some simple advice on how to compost correctly?
A: DHEC provides composting information for the beginner to large-scale operators through fact sheets and technical assistance brochures. In addition, they provide a booklet "Home Composting Made Easy" at no cost. Please call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348 for more information.
PESTICIDES
Q: What can I do with old pesticides?
A: These are very difficult waste materials to manage. All pesticide products have disposal instructions on their label. Read and follow the directions. If the product is still sold in stores and the label is still readable, use it or try to give it to someone or an organization that can use it.
Only a three local governments offer permanent household hazardous materials collection programs (Charleston, Horry and York counties).
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Q: How do I properly dispose or recycle a computer?
A: If your computer still works, consider donating it to a non-profit organization. If your computer does not work or you cannot donate it, check with your local recycling coordinator or call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348.
You can also be a more selective and environmentally friendly consumer. Consider upgrading your computer or leasing a computer instead of buying a new one. Before buying a new computer or other electronic equipment, ask the retailer if they have a "takeback" program that allows consumers to bring back old computers and other electronic equipment.
LARGE APPLIANCES
Q: Can I recycle my large household appliances (e.g., refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers)?
A: Household appliances can be recycled to collect scrap steel, copper, and aluminum. If the appliance is working, please consider donating it to a local charity such as the Salvation Army. Most counties accept large appliances for recycling either at designated locations or in some cases offer curbside pick up. Check with your local recycling coordinator or call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348.
If you live in the Florence City limits, the City of Florence also conducts scrap metal collection pickups throughout the year. Please call them for the next scheduled event, 843-665-3236.
GLASS
Q: Where can glass be recycled if it is not accepted in my curbside program?
A: Many counties have recycling centers that accept glass bottles and jars for recycling. Check with your local recycling coordinator or call DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348 to find out if glass is accepted at a recycling center in your community. It is not necessary to remove the labels but you should remove the lids.
Window glass, mirrors, Pyrex, light bulbs, ceramics and drinking glasses are NOT accepted for recycling.
PACKAGING "PEANUTS"
Q: What can I do with those packaging peanuts that come with things that are shipped to me?
A: Don't throw them away. Save them and use them when you need to mail a package. If you don't want to do that, most stores that mail packages will accept the peanuts and reuse them.
TELEPHONE BOOKS
Q: Where can I recycle my telephone book?
A: Telephone books are accepted in City of Florence curbside recycling and at all Florence County Convenience (recycling) Centers.
Fast Fact: Old telephone books can be recycled to make paper for new phone books, newspapers, envelopes, asphalt roofing shingles, animal bedding, blown insulation, paper egg cartons, paper towels, and tissues.
FEES
(tires, appliances, lead-acid batteries and oil)
TIRE FEE
Q: I just bought new tires. Why do I have to pay a $2 tire fee per tire?
A: There is a $2 fee per tire for each new tire sold in South Carolina with a U.S. Department of Transportation number. The fee is divided several ways, but mostly it is used by retailers or local governments to clean up waste tire piles and to recycle waste tires. Some funding is provided to do research to find new applications for waste tires, including using waste tires in road paving.
TIP: Before buying tires, ask the retailer if they accept the tires being replaced on your vehicle.
TIP: The state has no other fees associated with the sale of tires. Retailers may charge additional environmental fees for recycling or proper disposal as a matter of company policy.
DID YOU KNOW? Waste tires are a significant solid waste issue throughout the nation. Consider, in South Carolina about 8 million tires were generated in 2000. Tires pose several threats to human health and the environment. Many pests including mosquitoes are very comfortable living in waste tire piles. Mosquitoes are a particular danger to human health because of the diseases they carry. Waste tire piles are unsightly and frequently lead to more illegal dumping on the property. In addition, waste tire fires are difficult to extinguish. Burning tires release many toxins into the air and the water used to fight the fire may run off and cause petroleum contamination of nearby water sources.
APPLIANCE FEE
Q: I just bought several new appliances for my home. Why did I have to pay a $2 fee on each of the appliances?
A: There is a $2 fee on each appliance you purchase. The funding is used to pay for DHEC's solid waste management and recycling activities and to provide grant funding to local governments for recycling programs.
TIP: Before buying a new appliance, ask the retailer to accept your old appliance.
TIP: The state has no other fees associated with the sale of appliances. Retailers may charge additional environmental fees for recycling or proper disposal as a matter of company policy.
LEAD-ACID BATTERY FEE
Q: I just bought a new battery for my car. Why did I have to pay a $2 fee on the new battery? They also put a $5 charge and credit on my receipt. Why did they do that?
A: There is a $2 fee on each lead-acid battery (e.g., car, truck and lawnmower) that you buy. The funding is used to pay for DHEC's solid waste management and recycling activities and to provide grant funding to local governments for recycling programs.
The $5 charge and credit was for the return of your old battery. If you return an old battery without buying a new one, you would have to pay that $5 fee.
TIP: The state has no other fees associated with the sale of lead-acid batteries. Retailers may charge additional environmental fees for recycling or proper disposal as a matter of company policy.
OIL FEE
Q: I just bought oil for my car. Why did I have to pay a two cents fee for each quart of oil?
A: There is a fee of two cents per quart of oil. The funding is used to pay for activities of DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling and to provide grant funding to local governments to ensure the proper disposal and recycling of used oil, oil filters and oil bottles.
