Antifreeze l Gasoline l Oil/Gasoline Mixtures l Oil, Oil Filters and Oil Bottles l Tires l Batteries l Paint
Unwanted Mail l Compost l Pesticides l Computers and Electronic Equipment l Large Appliances l Glass Packaging "Peanuts" l Telephone Books l Tire Fee l Appliance Fee l Lead-Acid Battery Fee l Oil Fee
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Many answers to the FAQs below advise you to check with your local recycling coordinator. Select RECYCLING WHERE YOU LIVE on the menu bar to the left to find contact information for your county's recycling coordinator.
QUESTION: How do I properly dispose of or recycle antifreeze?
ANSWER: Many South Carolina counties accept antifreeze in their recycling programs. Check with your local recycling coordinator (click here) to see if antifreeze is collected in your community (and ask them to add the service if it is not) or call the Office 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, Oil/Gasoline Mixtures, Oil, Oil Filters and Oil Bottles
QUESTION: How do I properly recycle gasoline or oil/gasoline mixtures?
ANSWER: The Office has worked with local recycling programs to set up collection tanks for gasoline and oil/gasoline mixtures. Sixty-four collection sites have been established in 40 counties. Click here for a collection site near you.
QUESTION: How do I properly dispose of or recycle used oil?
ANSWER: Used oil can be recycled at more than 650 sites offered by local governments across the state. In addition, there are retail outlets such as Advance Auto, Auto Zone and some Jiffy Lubes that accept used oil. For a list of used oil recycling centers by county, click here. If you have further questions, you can call your local recycling coordinator (click here) or the Office at 1-800-768-7348.
QUESTION: How do I properly dispose of or recycle oil filters and bottles?
ANSWER: More than 40 counties accept used oil filters and oil bottles. Check with your local recycling coordinator (click here) for a recycling center near you.
QUESTION: How do I properly dispose of of waste tires?
ANSWER: 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 (click here) or call the Office at
1-800-768-7348 for a drop-off center near you.
One of the Office's programs directly supports the use of recycled tires on South Carolina roadways. The Asphalt Rubber Technology Service (ARTS) is a partnership of the Office, Clemson University and the City of Clemson. The mission of ARTS is to promote, design and test the use of recycled tires in rubberized asphalt and other crumb rubber applications including highways, secondary roads, exit ramp embankments, retaining walls and other erosion-resistant beach walls. ARTS provides grant funding to local governments and others interested in this green technology. This one-of-a-kind research facility is funded by a grant from the Office.
QUESTION: How do I properly dispose of or recycle batteries?
ANSWER: Alkaline batteries (for example, CD players, radios, television remotes and toy batteries) can be disposed of with your household garbage. Alkaline batteries were of 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 what naturally occurs as a trace element in 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 700 retail locations in South Carolina that accept these types of batteries. Click here 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 (click here) or call the Office 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.
QUESTION: How do I properly dispose of or recycle paint?
ANSWER: If the paint still can be used, try to donate it to a non-profit, church or school in your community. Many counties also accept usable latex paint from citizens. These counties include Aiken, Barnwell, Charleston (also accepts oil-based paint), Darlington, Fairfield, Greenville, Hampton, Horry, Lancaster, Pickens, Spartanburg and York. Other local governments may offer single-day collection events. If your county is not listed above, please contact your local recycling coordinator (click here) or solid waste management director for the proper disposal methods in your community.
In general, you can prepare paint for proper disposal by completing the following steps.
- 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.
- You can add cat litter, shredded newspaper, saw dust or sand to the paint to speed up the drying process. Stir occasionally.
- Once the paint is completely dried, you can dispose of it with your household garbage.
QUESTION: How do I stop unwanted mail?
ANSWER: 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.
QUESTION: Can I recycle unwanted mail?
ANSWER: 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.
QUESTION: I would like to compost in my backyard. Where can I get some simple advice on how to compost correctly?
ANSWER: We provide composting information for beginners to large-scale operators through fact sheets and technical assistance brochures. In addition, we provide a booklet called “Home Composting Made Easy” at no cost. Click here for more information or call the Office at 1-800-768-7348 for more information.
QUESTION: What can I do with old pesticides?
ANSWER: These are very difficult materials to properly 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 three local governments offer permanent household hazardous materials collection programs (Charleston, Horry and York counties). Other local governments may offer single-day collection events. If offered, you can take your pesticides to such an event (check with your local recycling coordinator (click here) to see if such an event is scheduled).
Also, consider minimizing the use of pesticides. To learn more, click here to see our composting page. Refer to the "Natural Pest, Weed & Disease Control" publication included in the GROW section.
Computers and Electronic Equipment
QUESTION: How do I properly recycle a computer or other electronic equipment from my home?
ANSWER: If the equipment still works, consider donating it to a non-profit organization. If it does not work or you cannot donate it, check with your local recycling coordinator (click here) or call the Office at 1-800-768-7348. Many counties offer permanent programs or one-day collection events to accept household electronics. Click one of the following fact sheets for more information on properly managing electronic waste.
- "For Your Information Fact Sheet: Electronics Recycling Options for Households"
- "For Your Information Fact Sheet: Electronic Waste"
- Electronic Waste Advisory
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.
For institutional purchasers, there is EPEAT, which stands for Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. EPEAT is an easy-to-use, on-line tool helping institutional purchasers select and compare computer desktops, laptops and monitors based on their environmental attributes. Click here for more information.
QUESTION: Can I recycle my large household appliances (e.g., refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers)?
ANSWERS: Most counties accept large appliances for recycling, either at designated locations or in some cases, they offer curbside pick up. Check with your local recycling coordinator (click here) or call the Office at 1-800-768-7348.
QUESTIONS: Where can glass be recycled if it is not accepted by my curbside program?
ANSWER: Many counties have recycling centers that accept glass bottles and jars for recycling. Check with your local recycling coordinator (click here) or call the Office 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.
QUESTION: What can I do with those packaging peanuts that come with things that are shipped to me?
ANSWER: 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.
QUESTION: Where can I recycle my telephone book?
ANSWER: Because there is no market or an area end-user for recycling telephone books, there is not an on-going collection process for these books. To prevent old phone books from going into the landfill, Keep the Midlands Beautiful and BellSouth Advertising and Publishing sponsors a telephone book recycling program each February. We recommend that you store your phone books in an out-of-the-way place and save them for recycling next February.
QUESTION: I just bought new tires. Why do I have to pay a $2 tire fee per tire?
ANSWER: 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.
NOTE: Before buying tires, ask the retailer if they accept the tires being replaced on your vehicle.
NOTE: 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.
QUESTION: I just bought several new appliances for my home. Why did I have to pay a $2 fee on each of the appliances?
ANSWER: 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.
NOTE: Before buying a new appliance, ask the retailer to accept your old appliance.
NOTE: 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.
QUESTION: 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?
ANSWER: There is a $2 fee on each lead-acid battery (for example, 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.
NOTE: 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.
QUESTION: I just bought oil for my car. Why did I have to pay a fee of two cents for each quart of oil?
ANSWER: There is a fee of two cents per quart of oil. The funding is used to pay for activities of the Office and to provide grant funding to local governments to ensure the proper disposal and recycling of used oil, oil filters and oil bottles.
NOTE: The state has no other fees associated with the sale of oil. Retailers may charge additional environmental fees for recycling or proper disposal as a matter of company policy.
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For more information about recycling in South Carolina, please call 1-800-768-7348.
This Web page was last updated on June 3, 2008.