Lexington County meets SCDHEC annual waste reduction, recycling goals
April 6, 2019
Lexington County has been recognized by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as being the only county in the state to meet both waste reduction and recycling goals for Fiscal Year 2018.
According to the report, Lexington County met SCDHEC’s goal to dispose of 3.25-pounds of solid waste per person, per day by 2020, achieving a waste rate of 3.17-pounds per person, per day. SCDHEC reported that 22 other counties also met this goal.
Additionally, Lexington County met SCDHEC’s goal to recycle at least 40% of the municipal solid waste disposed of by 2020; Lexington County achieved a recycling rate of 43.75%, which was the highest recycling rate out of all 46 counties. SCDHEC reported that the only other county to meet this goal was York County.
“I am immensely proud of the efforts our residents, local businesses and employees have done to ensure that Lexington County becomes a forerunner in the fight for responsible waste practices,” Lexington County Council Chairman Scott Whetstone said. “We still have a long way to go in policing litter and waste reduction, but this is a giant leap in the right direction.”
The report, which came out on March 27, 2019, contains data collected from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 and shows solid waste disposal and recycling activities from curbside collection companies, collection and recycling center activities and local businesses from all 46 counties.
Although businesses are not required to report their solid waste and recycling practices, SCDHEC requires local governments to collect and report as much data as possible by November each year. Lexington County Solid Waste Management officials collected solid waste and recycling data from 250 businesses around the County, a testament to the excellent partnerships the County has with businesses in its jurisdiction.
This is the second time that Lexington County has met both of SCDHEC’s waste reduction and recycling goals. In 2014, Lexington County achieved a recycling rate of 40.49% and a disposal rate of 2.94-pounds per person, per day.
