Tag: Litter Prevention

SC Lt. Governor Joins Press Conference to Debut new Recycle Here SC app
Originally posted by The Post & Courier, November 16, 2024 Recycling just got easier in South Carolina with the introduction of the Recycle Here SC mobile phone app. The app — developed through a partnership between the SC Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), PalmettoPride, and the SC Beverage Association — will consolidate information for South Carolina residents on what, where and how to recycle different items at different locations across the state. “While our web-based tool that provides recycling information has been extremely successful, this new app — which is one of the first of its kind nationwide — will make access to recycling information more convenient, reduce confusion and lessen contamination of recyclable materials,” said Myra Reece, SCDES Interim Director. “This app will also support South Carolina’s efforts to achieve a goal of recycling 50 percent of the state’s municipal solid waste by 2030.” Confusion about what items can and can’t be recycled paired with contamination, which is placing items that can’t be recycled into a recycling bin, are the biggest challenges faced by recycling programs throughout the nation. “With the launch of the Recycle Here SC app, we’re equipping South Carolinians with a powerful tool to make recycling more accessible and efficient,” said Lt. Governor Pamela S. Evette. “Since much of the litter in our communities consists of items that could have been recycled, this initiative will also play a key role in reducing litter across our state.” The Recycle Here SC app lists all the recycling programs in the state and allows residents to:
  • Search for recycling locations and programs within their counties;
  • Filter locations based on items needing to be recycled;
  • Search and sign up for notifications about special collection events (such as household hazardous waste take-back days, paper shredding days and electronic collection events);
  • Learn about recycling, composting, litter prevention, and waste reduction programs led by SCDES and PalmettoPride and
  • Find out how to properly dispose of other material.
The Recycle Here SC app is meant to complement pre-existing mobile apps that some counties already have in place, as it focuses on information for the state instead of the county level. For the counties that don’t have a recycling app, this new product puts the information right at their residents’ fingertips. “It’s essential for residents to understand that local recycling programs can vary considerably on which items they’re able to collect,” Reece said. “Municipalities nationwide are facing increased costs for their recycling programs, often due to high contamination rates. Having the right items in the right bin increases the value of the recyclables, lowers processing costs, and provides clean raw material to manufacturers for making new products.” Anyone without the ability to use a mobile phone app can continue to refer to SCDES’s Where to Recycle webpage for a list of county and city recycling locations throughout the state, available at //des.sc.gov/recycleheresc. Funding for the Recycle Here SC app was provided through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and awarded to SCDES. PalmettoPride and the S.C. Beverage Association also provided funding and support. The launch of the Recycle Here SC app coincides with America Recycles Day, which is recognized each year on Nov. 15 to highlight the importance and impact of recycling and how it protects the environment. Learn more about SCDES’s role with supporting successful recycling programs through South Carolina at //des.sc.gov/recycling.
Recycling just got easier in South Carolina with a ‘powerful’ new app
by Zach Rainey, originally posted by WYFF 4 on November 15, 2024 Recycling just got easier in South Carolina with the launch of a new mobile app. The app was developed through a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, Palmetto Pride and the South Carolina Beverage Association. The app will be called Recycle Here SC and it will help consolidate information for residents on what, where, and how to recycle different items at different locations across the state. “While our web-based tool that provides recycling information has been extremely successful, this new app – which is one of the first of its kind nationwide – will make access to recycling information more convenient, reduce confusion, and lessen contamination of recyclable materials,” said Myra Reece, SCDES Interim Director. “This app will also support South Carolina’s efforts to achieve a goal of recycling 50% of the state’s municipal solid waste by 2030.” Officials said the biggest challenge faced by recycling programs is contamination, which is placing items that can’t be recycled into a recycling bin. “With the launch of the Recycle Here SC app, we’re equipping South Carolinians with a powerful tool to make recycling more accessible and efficient,” said Lt. Governor Pamela Evette. “Since much of the litter in our communities consists of items that could have been recycled, this initiative will also play a key role in reducing litter across our state.” The Recycle Here SC app lists all the recycling programs in the state and allows residents to:
  • Search for recycling locations and programs within their counties;
  • Filter locations based on items needing to be recycled;
  • Search and sign up for notifications about special collection events (such as household hazardous waste take-back days, paper shredding days, and electronic collection events);
  • Learn about recycling, composting, litter prevention, and waste reduction programs led by SCDES and Palmetto Pride; and
  • Find out how to properly dispose of other material.
The application is meant to complement pre-existing mobile apps that some counties already have, as it focuses on information for the state instead of the county level. For residents without the ability to use a mobile app, they can continue to use SCDES Where to recycle webpage at des.sc.gov/recycleheresc. Officials said funding for the app was provided through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Recycle Here SC’s launch coincides with America Recycles Day on Nov. 15 and is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Lt. Governor Evette takes part in Myrtle Beach cleanup

Originally posted by WPDE ABC 15 News, Brianna Allison, May 13th 2024

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette joined Keep Myrtle Beach Beautiful and other volunteers at Hurl Rocks Park on Monday morning for a beach cleanup.

She stressed that everyone should help out with keeping our beaches clean.

“It’s as simple as when you go to walk the dog, when you go to walk your baby, when you want to go on a stroll with the family take a bag. Don’t step over trash. Pick it up. We have trash containers everywhere. Really working hard on recycling,” said Lt. Governor Evette.

Keep Myrtle Beach Beautiful’s next cleanup event is June 10 at Pavilion Park. Learn more about the event here.

SC state leaders stress importance of not littering

Originally published Apr 3, 2024 by Alex Tejada, ABC Columbia

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — You might think tossing trash on the side of the road is not a big deal but South Carolina littering laws could mean you end up with a fine or worse. 

Tuesday at the statehouse, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, along with Palmetto Pride and the South Carolina Litter Control Association, kicked off a zero tolerance for litter campaign for the month of April.

“Just don’t throw your trash where it doesn’t belong. That’s the easiest solution to most of life’s problems,” said Sarah Lyles, director of Palmetto Pride. “If it’s a big problem, don’t just throw it on the ground. Put it in a trash can or recycle it.”

Tuesday, state leaders kicked off a zero tolerance for litter campaign. Litter can pollute South Carolina’s soil and water as well as impact the environment in other ways.

“In South Carolina, we have flooding issues. When we have people litter and illegally dump, it fills in storm drains,” Lyles said. “We’re a southern state so we have waters flowing from other states. We have stormwater runoff that can clog storm drains and cause flooding. We see that in South Carolina.”

The Department of Public Safety also sees the harm that litter can cause on the roadways.

“It also can be a safety hazard,” said Col. Dean Dill. “Over 730 people get killed nationally a year because of objects in the roadway and 17,000 get injured.”

You might think that littering only trashes the community, but it can also land you in quite a bit of legal trouble depending on the offense.

“The worse the crime, the higher the fine and jail time,” Lyles said. “We also have mandatory community service. Officers and judges are allowed to give litter pickup for community service hours. We can assign roads and give them the supplies to do it and clean up.”

So if you throw trash, you might find yourself picking it back up, as well as paying a fine of anywhere from $25 to up to a $1,000

“Enforcement is always there to meet a goal.” Dill said. “It’s to keep people safe and gain compliance. That’s what we’re there for.”

If you are interested in helping clean up your community through a trash pickup, find out how to get involved or attend a specific event.

Grab a Bag SC: Statewide Litter Pickup Challenge Started by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette

“Litter prevention is about citizens taking ownership of their neighborhoods and making sure that trash is put in its place before it can become litter. But while there is still litter, we must pick it up. Citizens, governments and business industries all have a part to play in changing the culture that leads to litter.” – S.C. Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette

Grab A Bag SC is a statewide litter pickup challenge inspired by South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette’s own experience picking up in her home community and even during her family vacations. 

It encourages South Carolinians to grab a bag, rally friends and family, put on safety gear and head outside for a chance to enjoy the outdoors while making a difference in their communities. The campaign is usually kicked off with an event every spring in coordination with a local Keep South Carolina Beautiful affiliate.

Litter pickup events are a great way to build relationships among families, neighbors, employees and elected officials. This is an inexpensive way to improve the esthetics of neighborhoods because litter is considered a gateway crime that negatively affects quality of life and community safety.

We encourage participants to sign up for Grab A Bag SC in their own community by visiting PalmettoPride’s Events page. Safety precautions are advised. After you’ve picked up your bag, challenge three friends to do the same. Just tag them on your favorite social media platform using #GrabABagSC.

Read the press release from the inaugural #GrabABagSC event in November 2019.

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