Draft 2026 Aquatic Plant Management Plan Available for Public Review and Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 28, 2026 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The public is invited to review and provide comments on the draft 2026 South Carolina Aquatic Plant Management Plan, which outlines how native and non-native aquatic plants should be best managed in the state’s public waters to support healthy aquatic environments. The plan is developed by S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) in…Permitting Dashboard and Resources
South Carolina Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Grants
Application Materials & Steps Application Materials & Steps DERA Creation & Passage DERA Creation & Passage Photo Gallery & Announcements Photo Gallery & Announcements Eligibility Criteria, Solutions, & Cost-Share Eligibility Criteria, Solutions & Cost-Share Projects Funded by DERA Grants Projects Funded by DERA Grants Impacts of Diesel Emissions Impacts of Diesel…Permitting Dashboard
Enviva - Compliance History
In December 2018, January 2019, and March 2019, Enviva conducted a series of stack tests to verify emissions factors used in the permitting process and determine compliance with emission limits outlined in a construction permit that was issued on October 2, 2018. DHEC staff were present to observe the testing. The testing showed compliance with the specified air permit emission limits and…, Contact, For technical information about the draft air permit, contact Jo Anna Cunningham at (803) 898-4123 . For information about the virtual public hearing, contact Monica Taylor at Monica.Taylor@des.sc.gov or (803) 898-7678 . To report possible excess emissions or wood debris found on your personal property, contact the DHEC Regional Office in Greenwood at (864) 227-5915 . DHEC follows up on…Training Programs for Operators of Landfills & MSW Transfer Stations
2026 Training Schedule:, Class 3 Manager March 16 to 18 – Registration Open Class 2 Operator August 11-12 – Revisit Later Class 3 Supervisor October 13 to 15 – Revisit Later, Class 3 Landfill Managers Certification Training, SCDES’s Division of Compliance & Enforcement will be offering certification training for Class 3 Landfill Managers on March 16-18, 2025. The training will be held at the S.C. Association of Counties, 1919 Thurmond Mall, Columbia SC 29201. To register, please download and complete the, Class 3 registration, (Form D-0781)., E-mail the completed form to Carson DaWalt [, carson.dawalt@des.sc.gov, ], or mail a copy to SCDES, Bureau of Land & Waste Management, Division of Compliance & Enforcement, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Once a completed registration form has been received, direction will be given on how to make payment. The registration fee is $350 per person., The registration deadline is March 6, 2026. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis., Landfill and Transfer Station Training Program information, SCDES offers professional training programs for operators of Class 2 Landfills, Class 3 Landfills, and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Transfer Stations., The training programs: Ensure that all solid waste facility operators are professionally trained and re-certified on a regular basis in order to stay up-to-date with changes in solid waste technology as well as changes in South Carolina's environmental laws and regulations; Help improve the design and operational practices at landfills and transfer stations; and Increase the operators' awareness…, Class 3 Landfill Operators: Training Required, Supervision of the operation of a Class 3 Landfill shall be the responsibility of a qualified individual that has completed operator training courses and is certified pursuant to Regulation 61-107.14 Solid Waste Management: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Operator's Certification. This regulation defines "operator" as any person, including the owner, who is principally engaged in, or is in charge…, Class 2 Landfill and Transfer Station Operators: Training Recommended, Even though training for operators of Class 2 landfills and transfer stations is not currently required by regulation, SCDES strongly recommends that all operators take advantage of these voluntary training opportunities., When Are Training Courses Offered?, Class 3 Landfill Manager, Class 3 Landfill Supervisor, and Class 2 Landfill Operator training is offered annually. Transfer Station Operator training is offered on an as needed basis., Contact Us, For additional information, contact Chris Carney at (803) 898-0727 or Chris.Carney@des.sc.gov .SCDES Opens Nominations for Community Star Award to Recognize Environmental Stewardship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 2, 2026 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is now accepting nominations for its annual Community Star Award , which recognizes those who make a positive difference in their communities through environmental stewardship, sustainability and resilience. From grassroots initiatives to innovative local solutions, Community Stars…, said Myra Reece, SCDES Director., “The actions of our Community Stars benefit their neighbors and our state.” A selection committee comprised of SCDES environmental experts and agency leaders will review nominations and select a Community Star honoree using a weighted scoring process. Nominees who hold an agency-issued permit must be in compliance with their permit and must have no recent deficiencies, violations or enforcement…Environmental Clean Up Assistance Programs
Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP), Administers the Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) Oversees assessment and cleanup of Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program Performing Targeted Brownfields Assessments, Dry Cleaning, Administers South Carolina's Dry-cleaning Facility Restoration Trust Fund by using funds to assess, prioritize, and clean up registered dry-cleaning sites that are polluted within the state., Emergency Response, Coordinates the response of SCDES and other agencies in responding to spills and releases of petroleum and hazardous chemicals Trains Department personnel in response safety, hazards awareness and containment/removal technologies Investigates fish kills Coordinates the Department's response to fixed nuclear facility or transportation related radiological emergencies Provides radiological hazards…, Superfund, Determines if a site may have been polluted, and ranking the site to decide if it should be placed on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Priorities List (NPL), or on the State Superfund list. Responsible for assessing, remediating, and cleaning up or overseeing assessment, remediation, and clean up of Superfund sites in South Carolina that are not on the NPL.…, Underground Storage Tanks (UST), Oversee activities related to assessment, risk evaluation and remediation of underground storage tank releases. Administer the two state assurance funds (SUPERB Financial Responsibility Fund and the SUPERB Account) which serve as partial financial responsibility mechanisms for tank owners and operators in meeting their state and federal financial responsibility obligations., Waste Disposal, Provides technical assistance on the proper management of solid and hazardous waste Provides technical review of sampling protocols and analytical data Coordinates sampling activities for the BureauEnvironmental eNews Archive
Landfills
As part of the SWIFR grant from EPA, the state of South Carolina will be undergoing a waste characterization study in 2025 to determine if any waste can be diverted from landfills. We had an informational meeting with MSW Consultants on February 6, 2025, video presentation above. , A landfill is a large outdoor site specifically designed for the disposal of waste. Not all landfills are the same. Different kinds of landfills accept different kinds of waste including:, Industrial waste Hazardous waste Construction and demolition debris Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), commonly defined as household trash or garbage. When you think of a landfill, you probably are thinking of the landfill that accepts your household trash or garbage. In South Carolina, that's known as a Class 3 landfill. South Carolinians generate about 4.2 million tons of this type of trash/garbage…, Why do we need any landfills?, Waste reduction, reuse and recycling divert large parts of our waste from landfills, but not all of it. That waste must be managed safely to protect human health and the environment., What is MSW?, Different states have different definitions, but MSW is commonly defined as household trash or garbage. This includes paper, cans, bottles and food scraps. Class 3 landfills are designed to accept these types of waste - much of which should be recycled - along with other specific kinds of waste. In South Carolina, Class 3 landfills cannot accept hazardous waste, lead-acid (car and truck)…, How is MSW managed in South Carolina?, Waste is properly managed two ways. We recycle it or dispose of it in a Class 3 landfill., How much garbage is disposed of in Class 3 landfills?, Americans generated about 250 million tons of MSW in 2010 (the latest numbers available) according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Of that amount, 54 percent or 136 million tons was disposed of in landfills. The rest was recycled or composted (34 percent or 85 million tons) or incinerated (12 percent or about 29 million tons)., How much does it cost to dispose of waste at a Class 3 landfill?, Landfill operators charge a fee on a per ton basis. The fee is called a tipping fee and is charged to the waste hauler who empties or "tips" garbage out of the truck. The average tipping fee in South Carolina was $38 per ton according to the "S.C. Solid Waste Management Annual Report for FY18.", How do we pay for waste management?, It depends. Many people pay for waste management - including recycling services - through their property taxes. Other residents pay their fees through monthly or annual fees billed by their local government. Some have to pay waste haulers directly. Still, others take their garbage and recyclables to drop-off centers that are, of course, funded by local governments through taxes or fees., How many Class 3 landfills are there?, Nationwide, the number of active landfills has shrunk from nearly 8,000 in 1988 to 1,908 in 2010 according to the EPA. In South Carolina, there were 27 permitted Class 3 landfills operating in FY18., Who owns Class 3 landfills?, Nationally, about two-thirds are publicly owned while about one-third are privately owned. In South Carolina, 12 and publicly owned and 15 are privately owned, based on the "S.C. Solid Waste Management Annual Report for FY18.", What laws or regulations must be followed at Class 3 landfills?, Class 3 landfills are well-engineered facilities that must meet strict EPA and SC Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) regulations on their location, design, operation and closing. In South Carolina, all Class 3 landfills must be approved (receive a permit) by SCDES. In addition, local zoning and land-use ordinances may limit Class 3 landfill site selection., Why do Class 3 landfills have liners?, Liners in Class 3 landfills are designed and placed to stop the potential pollution of groundwater. Hazardous household materials such as cleaners and pesticides and other waste could contaminate groundwater if the liners were not in place., Do Class 3 landfills smell?, Federal and state regulations require MSW to be covered daily with soil or another type of cover to control or reduce odor. Landfill operators also can control or reduce odors by only disposing of waste in a small working face (area)., Who picks landfill locations?, If it is a public landfill, a local government will select a potential site. If it is a private company, it will select a potential site and approach the local government. In both cases, residents will have a chance to comment at public meetings. Once a potential site is selected, the local government or private company will apply to SCDES for a permit. There are numerous local, state and federal…, What happens when Class 3 landfills close?, First, before a Class 3 landfill is approved (given a permit from SCDES), a landfill owner is required to have funding to not only properly close but also to monitor and fix any environmental problems that could occur. When a Class 3 landfill is closed, it is capped with a layer of clay, a plastic liner and a layer of soil (bottom to top of the cap). The cap is seeded to grow grass. The Class 3…, The Myth of Biodegradation, Most of us assume that when we throw something away, it will eventually break down or decompose in the landfill. You know, a return to nature kind of thing. Well, not necessarily. It depends on what was thrown away - and a lot of other things. One of the most recognized research efforts on decomposition - also called biodegradation - has been the work done as part of the Garbage Project at the…, Related Topics, Solid Waste Regulation Pollution Clean Up and Monitoring SC Environmental Sites in the News Report It!