Recycling & Grants Administration

Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority supports our communities in developing fiscally sound solid waste policies to minimize negative impacts on the environment. Three Rivers and its member counties promote the "Three Rs" concept as the primary strategy to promote good environmental stewardship.

THE THREE Rs:

REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE

Why recycle?

• To save natural resources
  • 58 percent less water is used to make recycled paper than when using raw materials.
• To save energy
  • One aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours. Every ton of mixed paper recycled can save the energy equivalent of 185 gallons of gasoline.
  • Two gallons of recycled motor oil have enough energy to run the average household for 24 hours.
• To save landfill space
  • Landfills are expensive to build and maintain. Why put recyclables in the landfill? Save valuable landfill space.

The first strategy should always be to REDUCE waste being generated. Second, REUSE items for another purpose. Lastly, visit your local drop-off center and RECYCLE. The nine member counties operate 80 drop-off centers.

Recovered Materials Recycling

There are four (4) Recovered Material Baling Operations (RMBOs) in the region located in Aiken, Barnwell, Edgefield (Tri-County) and Orangeburg. These RMBOs receive segregated recyclables from the region's drop-off centers, bale these materials, and sell the commodities. In calendar year 2007, approximately 3000 tons of paper, plastic, cardboard, aluminum and tin cans were recycled. Revenues exceeded $300,000.

Waste Tire Processing

The Authority operates a waste Tire Recycling and Processing facility located at our landfill site. We process about 200,000 tire a year. Tires are ground to a 4 inch chip that is used in the construction of the landfill liner system.

Scrap Metal

The Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority administers the contract for regional scrap metal recycling. In calendar year 2007, more than 2000 tons of scrap metal was removed from the waste stream and recycled.

Waste Oil

In South Carolina, used motor oil must be recycled. It’s the law. The S.C. Solid Waste Policy and Management Act of 1991 (Act) banned the disposal of motor oil in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills after May 27, 1992. The Act prohibits the disposal of oil into sewers, drainage systems, septic tanks, surface water or groundwater and on the ground. The Act also prohibits the use of oil for road oiling, dust control, weed abatement and other uses that have the potential to harm the environment.

If you have your oil changed for you (at a car dealership, garage or quick lube), your used motor oil is recycled by that business. If you are a do-it-yourselfer (DIYer – an individual who changes oil in a personal vehicle), you must recycle that used motor oil. In addition, you should recycle the used oil filter and motor oil bottles. If you have any questions about South Carolina's successful used motor oil recycling program, click here.

Wood Waste

The Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority works with its member counties and local haulers to segregate non-treated wood for processing. This wood is sorted at the landfill site to remove plastic and metal, ground up and screened. Chips are sold for boiler fuel. In calendar year 2007, more than 1500 tons were recycled.