Environmental 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!Boil Water Emergencies
Sometimes a situation occurs where the safeness (due to biological or chemical contamination) or the availability of water is a concern for the proper operation of a food service facility. When the water supply may have been biologically contaminated a Boil Water Advisory will be issued. If it is confirmed that the water supply has been biologically contaminated, a Drinking Water Warning (…, Drinking Water Warning Instructions and Fillable Form Drinking Water Warning Fillable Form only Drinking Water Warning Example If a boil water, advisory, is issued for your area, it means that the water supply in your area may be contaminated, either by a sewage overflow, a water line break, a chemical spill, a natural disaster such as a hurricane or flood, or some other unusual event., Please check with your local government for the status of boil water advisories in your area., If your public water system issues a Drinking Water Warning, it means the water in your area is definitely contaminated. Your family members could get very sick if they drink the water or use it to cook food., Instructions for businesses, Download instructions for business (pdf). Download instructions for business - Español (pdf) Download instructions for business - Chinese (pdf) Download instructions for business - Portuguese (pdf), How to purify bacteria-contaminated water by boiling:, Bring water to a rolling boil and keep it there for at least 1 full minute. Then, let it cool before using. Stop using appliances and equipment that use drinkable water, such as dishwashers, icemakers, tea brewers and coffee makers. Use disposable paper, plastic or foam plates, cups, forks, etc. Prepare food using water that has been boiled. Wash hands with water that has been boiled and cooled.…, How to purify bacteria-contaminated water with bleach, If you can't boil contaminated water to kill impurities, you can use bleach: Use unscented liquid chlorine bleach containing 4 to 6 percent available or free chlorine. ("Free" chlorine has not combined with organic matter and is therefore available for killing bacteria and algae.) Add 1 teaspoon of bleach to every 4 gallons of water. Let the treated water stand for 30 minutes before drinking or…, Chemical contamination, Never use water that has been or may have been contaminated with chemicals. Do not use it for cooking, drinking, hand washing, pets, etc., until the water has been declared safe by SCDES or your local water authority., Private wells, If you use a well you will want to make sure that it is not contaminated with bacteria. Do not use the water from your well until it has been tested. For information on how to have your water tested and your well disinfected, contact your local Environmental Affairs office . For more information, see SCDES Residential Well Disinfection (PDF) or view Emergency Well Disinfection ., Related Topics, Residential Well Disinfection (PDF) Septic Systems - What to Do after the Flood (EPA)Reporting a Potential Coastal Violation
Citizens are encouraged to report possible violations of the S.C. Coastal Zone Management Act. Reports can be submitted via ePermitting through an, Environmental Complaint Submission, or by email to , complianceenforcement-bcm@des.sc.gov, . Your report will remain confidential. However, please call (843) 953-0200 if you wish to remain anonymous. SCDES BCM compliance and enforcement personnel will investigate reports of possible violations, take appropriate action and, if requested, notify the person making the report of any action taken., Resources, Uniform Enforcement Policy for SCDES BCM, SC Coastal Zone Management Act, Civil Penalty InformationSocial Media Terms of Use
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) maintains a social media presence for the purpose of engaging and interacting with our community. , Limited Public Forum, All social media platforms used by SCDES are designated as Limited Public Forums. The agency welcomes a person’s right to express his/her opinion and encourages posters to keep comments relevant to the topic in question. Posting of any content on any social media platform used by SCDES, by any visitor, follower, subscriber or fan, constitutes acceptance of the terms of use described here in this…, Moderation of Content, SCDES's social media platforms are intended to be "family friendly." When applicable, the agency uses platform-provided content moderation/filtering options to limit foul or obscene content. SCDES does monitor the social media platforms used by the agency, and will remove inappropriate content as defined below, without prior notice, and as soon as possible. The department shall reserve the right…, Facebook's Community of Standards, All comments posted to SCDES’s Facebook page are bound by, Facebook’s Community Standards, , and SCDES reserves the right to report any violation of Facebook’s Community Standards to Facebook with the intent of Facebook taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action., YouTube Community Guidelines, When applicable, SCDES reserves the right to report any violation of the, YouTube Community Guidelines, , with the intent of YouTube taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action., LinkedIn User Agreement, When applicable, SCDES reserves the right to report any violation of the, LinkedIn User Agreement, , with the intent of LinkedIn taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action., Flickr Community Guidelines, When applicable, SCDES reserves the right to report any violation of the, Flickr Community Guidelines, , with the intent of Flickr taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action.Nondiscrimination
Translation and Interpreter Services, South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has translation and interpreter services available for applicants and recipients of covered SCDES services and members of the public for public hearings. If you speak a language other than English or need alternate means of communication, such as sign language or large print, please notify the staff at your SCDES local office, a…, compliance@des.sc.gov, or at, (803) 898-3944, ., Nondiscrimination, SCDES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or sex in administration of its programs or activities. SCDES does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 CFR Parts 5 and 7, or for the…, compliance@des.sc.gov, Phone:, (803) 898-3944, , Discrimination Complaint Process, SCDES does not discriminate in service delivery on the bases of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or sex as required by applicable state and federal laws and regulations. SCDES employees and those representing SCDES shall not intimidate, threaten, harass, coerce, discriminate against, or otherwise retaliate against anyone who has filed…, Complaint Process, Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination as detailed above, or based on the denial of interpretation or translation services, may file a complaint with the SCDES Compliance Office. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discrimination. Complete an, SCDES Discrimination Complaint Form (D-2780), (, Formulario de reclamo por discriminación (D-2780-S), ) or provide the following information in as much detail as possible: The name of the person filing the complaint - If completing the form for someone else, please include your name and the complainant’s name. Contact information for the person filing the complaint. If completing the form for someone else, please include your contact information and the complainant’s contact information. If we…, Mail:, Kayla David, SCDES Compliance Officer | 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, Email:, compliance@des.sc.gov Complaints also may be taken via, telephone, at, (803) 898-3944, . The Compliance Office will respond to the complaint within thirty (30) calendar days and will take reasonable steps to resolve the matter. The complainant may be contacted for more information. At the conclusion of the Compliance Office’s investigation, the complainant will be notified of the summary of the allegations, findings, and any action(s) to be taken. , Additional Information, In addition to the process above, a person may choose to file a complaint with the following federal agency:, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Office of the Assistant Attorney General 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 Phone: (202) 514-4609 Anonymous complaints will be handled in the same manner as any other complaints to the extent feasible based on the information provided. SCDES may choose not to accept anonymous complaints of discrimination, but instead may choose to evaluate the concerns raised as a compliance or…FOIA Policies and Procedures
I. GENERAL, It is hereby the policy of the Department of Environmental Services that records of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (hereinafter "Department") be open to the public for inspection and copying pursuant to, and subject to any limitations of, the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-10 et seq. (1976, as amended). Further, that the Department…, II. FOI CENTER POLICY AND PROCEDURES, A. General., The Department of Environmental Services receives a substantial number of FOI requests in the central office as well as in its district offices throughout the state. The SCDES FOI Center is being established to ensure that all requests are handled in a consistent manner and in conformity with the FOIA. The FOI Center shall be located at the: SCDES Central Office Building 2600 Bull Street Columbia…, (803) 898-3882, ., B. Receipt of Request/Procedure to Process., All FOI requests, must be in writing, . No particular form is required, although a standard form may be downloaded from the previous page or will be provided upon request. A FOIA request log shall be maintained at the FOI Center, and all requests will be logged in regardless of where the files are reviewed. If the requested records are available, the FOI Center shall coordinate with appropriate program areas to arrange for retrieval…, C. Referral of Requests to Office of General Counsel., Certain requests which may involve ongoing litigation, enforcement activities, or confidentiality may be referred to the Office of General Counsel for advice, or where appropriate, a response. Certain requests may require a determination to be made regarding confidentiality, trade secret, or other FOIA or separate statutory exemption from release. In such cases, the requestor will be notified…, D. Response to Request/Notification., Within fifteen working days of receipt of a written FOI request, the Department must, in accordance with Section 30-4-30(c), make a determination in writing to the requestor regarding the release of the requested records. If the records are available, the requestor will be notified and instructed to contact the FOI Center to schedule a time and place where the records may be inspected or copied…, E. Policy on Fees., Section 30-4-30(b) provides for the establishment and collection of reasonable fees and for certain exemptions. These fees are subject to change. A current schedule of fees will be available from the FOI Coordinator. Fees will include both the cost of reproduction and personnel costs for research and retrieval.Solid Waste
Demonstration of Need Required Financial Assurance Facilities Lists Compliance and Enforcement Composting and Wood Grinding Lead Acid Batteries Used Oil Waste Tire Haulers Consolidated Waste Solid Waste Landfills and Structural Fill Regulation Training Programs for Operators of Landfills & MSW Transfer Stations 2018 Changes to Solid Waste Policy & Management Act (pdf) Related Topics…S.C. Environmental Awareness Award Presented to ‘Save Our Saluda’ President Melanie Ruhlman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 3, 2026 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and participating state agencies proudly announce Melanie Ruhlman, president of “Save Our Saluda”, as the recipient of the 2025 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award. Ms. Ruhlman was presented with this annual statewide award during a ceremony held Feb. 3 at EdVenture…Ozone
Ozone is a highly reactive, colorless gas pollutant that is not typically emitted directly into the air by any one source. Instead, ozone is considered a secondary pollutant, which means that it is formed through complex chemical reactions of molecules in the air. Specifically, ground-level ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) chemically react in the…