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*Updated Jan. 30, 2026 

Following an increase in odor complaints from the nearby Telfair Community, SCDES staff began an investigation. 

Coastal Waste and Recycling, LLC owns and operates a construction and demolition (Class II) landfill on Lady’s Island in Beaufort County. Site inspections were conducted, and staff found that a slope of the landfill had washed out during a rain event in August, which may have contributed to offsite odors. 

Community members are encouraged to report odors using this link. The information provided will help guide our ongoing investigation. 

Weather conditions are an important part of odor investigations. When water interacts with some of the construction debris in the landfill, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas may be generated. When reporting odors, please record the wind direction and, if possible, the wind speed. You can check current wind conditions from the National Weather Service or a weather app on your phone.

Methyl mercaptan, a sulfur-containing compound, is added to natural gas as an odorant so that leaks can be detected. If your home has gas appliances or gas heating or gas fireplaces and you smell gas inside your home that is not also outside of your home, you should leave the home and call the gas company or 9-1-1.

SCDES and local partners continue to work to resolve odor concerns. This webpage will be updated as new information about the odor investigation is available.
 

SCDES
  • A site inspection was performed Aug. 20, 2025. A slope washout from recent rain was noted during the inspection.
  • Once odor complaints became more frequent, staff frequently rode by the site in the morning and afternoon.
  • A site inspection was performed Sept. 24, 2025. Landfill cover was actively being applied, and the ditches had been cleaned. No noticeable odor was noted.
  • An odor assessment request letter was sent to the facility on Sept. 26, 2025.
  • An odor assessment plan was submitted to SCDES on Oct. 15, 2025 and is currently under review.
  • On Oct. 17, 2025, SCDES asked the community to assist in reporting odor information to guide our on-going investigation and response.
  • On Nov. 3, 2025, SCDES approved the Coastal Waste and Recycling, LLC Odor Assessment Plan. SCDES will also require additional measures, including submission of an Odor Abatement Plan by the facility.
  • On Nov. 12, 2025, SCDES staff deployed two Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) monitors in the area: one on the property of Coastal Waste and Recycling, LLC and another at a property in the Telfair neighborhood. Weekly updates of data from this monitoring will be shared on this webpage.
  • On Dec. 5, 2025, SCDES approved Coastal Waste's Odor Abatement Plan.
  • On Jan. 26, 2026, SCDES hosted a Community Meeting for members of the Telfair Community. The meeting shared information from our SCDES team about our ongoing odor investigation.  Staff from Coastal Waste & Recycling, LLC was also in attendance to answer questions from the community.
Coastal Waste and Recycling, LLC
  • Since the week of Aug. 18, 2025, the company has re-applied, stabilized, and re-seeded cover to the landfill after heavy localized rain. Additional rain events reversed initial progress to repair the washout.
  • On Sept. 20, 2025, the facility completed repairs to the washout and had some grass growing on the slope at the last inspection. The surrounding ditches have also been cleaned out.
  • Maintenance, including erosion repair and additional cover soils, are estimated to be 75% complete.
  • The Odor Monitoring Plan continues to be followed daily.
  • Coastal Waste has submitted the required Odor Abatement Plan. 

 

A landfill site inspection was performed on October 8, 2025 where the following was noted:

  • All external slopes have been re-covered from the recent erosion, and vegetation is starting to grow in some areas. The facility plans to stabilize the external slopes by planting grass.
  • The working face needs to be reduced in size. The facility has rented an extra haul truck to assist with application of soil to cover all needed areas.
  • The facility needs to address a low-lying area within the landfill footprint to prevent any ponding of water
  • SCDES staff noted odors within the landfill footprint and along Middle Road. 

A landfill site inspection was performed on October 22, 2025, where the following was noted: 

  • Since the previous inspection on October 8, 2025, the working face of the landfill had been reduced and additional cover was being applied.
  • The facility continues to address the erosion from the October 10-12 rain event.
  • The facility needs to ensure stormwater is being diverted away from any waste material.
  • The low-lying area that was identified in the last inspection has been addressed. The landfill continues efforts to ensure water flows away from this area.
  • SCDES staff noted odors within the landfill footprint and along Middle Road. 

A landfill site inspection was performed on December 17, 2025, where the following was noted:

  • The working face of the landfill has been relocated to the upper deck and has a reduced size.
  • A significant amount of soil cover has been placed on the upper deck and side slopes, and the slopes have been seeded. 
  • The lower deck working face was in the final stages of being capped and is expected to be completely closed by the end of the week.
  • Facility personnel reported receiving over an inch of rain over the weekend (within a three-day period), and no erosion was observed by the inspector.
  • SCDES staff noted odors on the upper deck of the landfill and along Middle Road.  There was less odor on Middle Road than previous inspection.

SCDES has deployed two Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) monitors in the area. The information provided in the reports below is qualitative in support of the ongoing investigation into odor complaints received by SCDES. Because there are no ambient air quality standards for H2S which apply here, this data is being used to evaluate trends and support the ongoing odor investigation.