Hazardous Waste
Overview Resource, Conservation, Recovery Act Overview of Hazardous Waste Generator Requirements Pesticide Handling Laws, Regulations Waste Assessment Overview Proper Management of Hand Sanitizer Related Topics Compliance Assistance - Contacts Forms (Hazardous Waste) Report it! Permit CentralSummer Home Checklist: Simple Ways to Protect South Carolina’s Environment
A person’s hand holding a pen and writing on papers spread out on a wooden table. A notebook and a coffee mug sit nearby in a softly lit workspace Summer in South Carolina means more time outdoors, from backyard barbecues and gardening to family gatherings, pool days and weekend projects. While we’re enjoying the season, the choices we make at home can have a big impact on the air, land and water…, Before summer visitors arrive, make sure your system is ready:, Have your septic system inspected regularly and pumped as needed. SCDES recommends inspections every one to two years and pumping every three to five years, depending on your household size and tank needs. Know where your septic tank and drainfield are located. Avoid parking vehicles or placing heavy structures over your drainfield. Spread out water-intensive activities, such as doing multiple…, Help keep your home and community safe:, Do not place loose batteries in household trash or recycling bins. Store unwanted batteries in a safe location until they can be properly recycled. Follow local guidance for battery disposal and recycling options. Proper battery management helps prevent fires, protects workers and keeps harmful materials out of the environment. Keep Chemicals Out of Drains and Waterways Summer often means more…Hydrology Section
Fact Sheet: Getting a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit
What is the purpose of this permit?, When we talk about NPDES permits, we're really talking about a family of permits. One branch is designed to deal with stormwater runoff. A second branch - the subject of this fact sheet - focuses on discharges from city (domestic) and industrial wastewater treatment systems. Essentially, all NPDES permits allow discharges within acceptable limits. The limits are designed to protect streams and…, Who issues this permit?, The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) administers NPDES permits within South Carolina. SCDES has been authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to manage the NPDES permitting process to satisfy both state and federal laws., What types of businesses need to obtain this permit?, Manufacturing operations, car washes, auto salvage yards, wastewater treatment plants, utility companies, mining operations, petroleum storage facilities, aquaculture operations, and hydrostatic testing operations are just a few of the businesses that need NPDES permits to operate. There are two sub-categories of NPDES permits: General NPDES permit: Each general permit applies to a particular…, How much will it cost to get an NPDES permit?, There is no application fee for an NPDES permit, but SCDES does assess yearly operational fees. A general NPDES permit costs $75-$100 each year. An individual NPDES permit costs from $530 to a couple of thousand dollars yearly, depending on the design flow, the volume of discharge, the number of discharge pipes, and other factors., Where can I get the application form(s) for this permit?, You can download permit application forms from our website . Depending on the characteristics of waste your business will discharge and other factors, you may need to complete more than one form as part of your application packet. To make sure you complete all the necessary forms the first time around, we urge you to speak to a SCDES permitting expert by phone or in person in the earliest stages…, What, if anything, do I need to include with my application form(s)?, Each situation is different. Some applicants will need to submit an engineering report. Some will need to submit an 'alternatives analysis' demonstrating that discharging pollutants into surface water is the only option realistically available (part of an anti-degradation analysis). We strongly urge you to discuss your specific situation with a SCDES permitting expert early in your planning…, What factors will come into play in SCDES's decision about whether to grant my business/facility a permit?, There are so many variables that can affect whether or not SCDES will grant an individual NPDES permit that two similar industries may apply for the same permit but get different outcomes depending on the discharge location. Each applicant for an individual permit must undergo a case-specific review. Factors affecting the timing of the permit process that may come into play include public…, How long will it take to review and approve my application?, This is a tough question to answer without knowing the project details. General NPDES permits take much less time than individual NPDES permits. For general NPDES permits, we usually complete our staff review process within a couple of weeks once we receive the completed paperwork and documentation that allows us to grant coverage to your business under the general permit. Of course, if you fail…, Where do I submit my application?, Mail your application to: SCDES Bureau of Water Water Facilities Permitting Division Columbia, South Carolina 29201, How long is my permit valid?, An NPDES permit is good for 5 years. As for renewals, as long as you file a complete application to renew your permit at least 180 days in advance of the expiration date, state law allows you to continue operations without disruption., What is the appeal process for being turned down for a permit or having my permit revoked?, For information on the permit appeals process, visit our website . Be aware that third parties also have the right to file an appeal and challenge SCDES's permit decision., Who can I contact if I have questions about this permit or the application process?, Mail your application to: Municipal/domestic systems : Call Mike Montebello at (803) 898-4228 or email him at Mike.Montebello@des.sc.gov . Industry systems : Call Crystal Rippy at (803) 898-3964 or email her at Crystal.Rippy@des.sc.gov ., Where does the legal authority for this permit come from?, The authority for NPDES permits stems from federal and state laws. Our state environmental laws are written to be consistent with at least the standards set by federal laws. SCDES's fee structure is authorized by a separate law. Federal Clean Water Act S.C. Pollution Control Act S.C. Environmental Protection Fund ActLocations
Training Programs for Operators of Landfills & MSW Transfer Stations
2026 Training Schedule:, Class 3 Manager March 16 to 18 – Class Completed Class 2 Operator August 11-12 – Registration Open Class 3 Supervisor October 13 to 15 – Revisit Later, Class 2 Landfill Operators Certification Training, SCDES’s Division of Compliance & Enforcement will be offering certification training for Class 2 Landfill Operators on August 11-12, 2026. 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 2 registration, , (Form D-0577)., 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, directions will be given on how to make payment. The registration fee is $275 per person. , The registration deadline is August 3, 2026., 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 .New State Laboratory Strengthens South Carolina's Public Health and Environmental Protection Efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2026 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The S.C. Department of Public Health (DPH) and S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) today celebrated the opening of the state's new Public Health and Environmental Laboratory, a modern facility designed to strengthen South Carolina's ability to protect public health and the environment for decades to come. The 140,000-square-…, said Dr. Brannon Traxler, acting director of the S.C. Department of Public Health., “We now have a truly world-class, state-of-the-art public health and environmental laboratory with national CDC Laboratory Response Network Level 1 status, which only 10 other laboratories in the nation have, as well as room to grow and accommodate new technologies as they emerge to protect South Carolinians and their families.” "This highly advanced laboratory represents an investment in the…, said Myra Reece, Director of the S.C. Department of Environmental Services., "Our environmental lab professionals now have a modern, leading-edge facility for performing their essential work that helps protect the water we drink and the air we breathe, and much more. With South Carolina’s population and economy growing every day, it’s never been more important to advance our capabilities for protecting our air, land and water resources.” The new Public Health and…Groundwater Level Monitoring Network
The Groundwater Program maintains a groundwater level monitoring network of more than 180 wells., Overview, SCDES maintains a groundwater-level monitoring network of more than 180 wells in the State. Most of these wells are equipped with automatic data recorders that record water levels on an hourly basis, while the remaining wells are measured manually four to six times per year. Most wells have been measured since the mid-to-late 1990s, although a number of wells have been monitored longer, with one…, here, . The network includes 33 cluster sites where two or more monitoring wells have been installed at varying depths in separate aquifers. Most wells are located within the Coastal Plain province, with only 15 wells located in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge physiographic provinces. A subset of the wells, the, Groundwater Drought Monitoring Network, , is equipped with telemetry systems for real-time data collection, and these wells are used for drought monitoring purposes. In some wells along the coast, salinity is also measured to better understand and monitor saltwater intrusion into the aquifers near the ocean. Water-level data are used for the following purposes: Identifying short- and long-term changes in groundwater levels and aquifer…, South Carolina SCDES Groundwater Monitoring Network Status Report, or by contacting Josh Williams (, josh.williams@des.sc.gov, ). In addition to the SCDES groundwater network, the USGS maintains a groundwater-level network of 20 wells in South Carolina. Water level data from those wells can be found, here, . View and Download Groundwater Data Hydrograph SCDES Groundwater Monitoring Network Map groundwater Monitoring Network Groundwater Drought Monitoring Network, Selected Groundwater Level Data Reports, Groundwater Levels in South Carolina, 2011–2018, SCDNR Groundwater Monitoring Network map (PDF), South Carolina DNR Groundwater Monitoring Network Status Report - July 2009 through June 2014 (PDF), Ground-Water Levels in South Carolina 2006-2010 (PDF), Water Resources Data for South Carolina, 2000-2005, Water Resources Data for South Carolina, 2000-2001, Ground-Water Levels in South Carolina - A Compilation of Historical Water-Level Data, More Groundwater Resources, Potentiometric Mapping, Groundwater Modeling, Coastal Plain Water Well Database, Hydrology Section Publications, National Groundwater Monitoring NetworkLand: Infectious Waste
In South Carolina, there are approximately 9,000 registered generators of infectious waste, 30 registered transporters of infectious waste, and 3 registered treatment facilities for infectious waste. The 2026 Infectious Waste Annual Report (pdf) contains the most recent estimates of the types and amounts of infectious waste generated in South Carolina., What is Infectious Waste?, Also known as medical or biohazardous waste, infectious waste is material that was used in a healthcare setting, research setting or post-mortem exams. It includes: Sharps Microbiological specimens such as vaccines, culture dishes and other waste that has been exposed to human pathogenic agents Blood and blood products Pathological waste, which includes body fluids and any part removed from a…, Related Topics:, Infectious Waste Permits and ComplianceInfectious Waste
Overview Info for Infectious Waste Generators Info for Infectious Waste Transporters Package, Storage, Transport, Treatment Data & Reports, Related Topics, Forms (All SCDES Forms) Infectious Waste Registration Form Infectious Waste Laws, Regulations