For local help on Waste Recycling Equipment, Products and Services in Charleston and surrounding areas check out the links below. You can find a large variety of Trash Compactors, Balers, Crushers, Shredders, Grinders, Densifiers and many other waste recycling related resources.   If you know of some special Waste Recycling deals in the Charleston area, please email us at info@wastecare.com and we will consider adding it to our website.

Disposal, Handling and Recycling Information for Various Materials

1.      Batteries

-        Alkaline batteries can be disposed of in the regular trash, but it’s recommended that you recycle
      them and/or replace them with rechargeable batteries

-        Button cell and rechargeable batteries are hazardous and can be dropped off at the Hazardous
      Waste Collection Center.

-        Button cell batteries may be accepted by jewelers or places that do camera or watch repair.

-        Rechargeable batteries can be dropped off at a Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. box, which
      are found in many locations.

-        Vehicle batteries can be recycled at any place that sells vehicle batteries and you can save money
      by buying a new battery when you recycle your old one.

2.      Building & Demolition Materials

-        Some companies (like Habitat for Humanity) will recycle construction materials

-        Florida Concrete Recycling will recycle concrete and asphalt

-        Certain items can be dropped off at disposal centers or landfills

-        Reuse gravel, sand, bricks

3.      Cardboard

-        Old cardboard boxes can be reused for things such as storage or mailing.

-        Recycling companies accept flattened cardboard boxes

-        Business recycling services provide recycling bins and pickups for cardboard

4.      Computers & Accessories

-        Sell old computer parts to other people who need them

-        Some computer companies will recycle old parts for you if you send them in (Dell does this).

-        Donate to thrift stores, charities, or schools.

-        Drop off at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center

5.      Documents & Office Paper

-        Confidential papers can be shredded (on- or off-site) and recycled by certain companies

-        Shredded or unshredded documents can be dropped off or arranged to be picked up by many
      recycling companies.

6.      Drum Containers

-        Filled drums can be dropped off at the Hazardous Waste Collection Center. Make sure you tell
      them whatever’s inside the drum.

-        Empty metal drums can be sold to a metal recycler.

7.      Hazardous Electronics

-        If at all possible, repair the electronics for further use.

-        Donate working items that you no longer need to thrift stores, charities, churches, or schools.

-        Sell working items to other people that may need them using the internet or newspaper.

-        Electronics can be dropped off at almost any recycling collection center

8.      Fire Extinguishers

-        Empty fire extinguishers can be disposed in the regular trash.

-        Fire extinguisher companies can recharge or dispose of fire extinguishers.

-        The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center accepts fire extinguishers.

9.      Fluorescent Lighting

-        Can be dropped off at the Hazardous Waste Collection Center.

-        Some hardware stores offer exchange programs for fluorescent bulbs.

-        Fluorescent bulb crushers can be bought and used in-house to reduce the volume of bulbs.

10.   Food

-        Instead of disposing of unwanted food, consider starting a composting program and turning it into
      compost.

11.   Glass

-       Glass bottles can be reused as storage or for other things.

-        Bottles and jars can be recycled at recycling centers

-        Glass windows or doors can be recycled at building materials recyclers

12.      Junk Mail

-     Junk mail can be a problem for both residents and business owners. It’s a waste of paper and a
      waste of space.

-     Visit www-stopjunkmail-org for information about stopping junk mail.

-     Include junk mail in your company’s recycling program.

-     Junk mail can be recycled at most recycling centers or can be dropped off with other paper
      recycling.

13.      Magazines

-     Recycle magazines with other paper waste.

-     Magazines can be donated to libraries, hospitals, churches, schools, or any other place that may
      collect magazines for waiting rooms or projects.

14.      Scrap Meta

-     Some metal recyclers will pay you for any scrap metal you have.

-     Regular recycling centers may also accept metal.

15.      Motor Oil

-     Motor oil is considered to be hazardous waste and should be treated as such. Do not dispose of it
      with regular waste, instead, bring it to a hazardous waste collection center.

-     Some automotive stores will also accept motor oil for recycling purposes. Call ahead to make sure
      it’s accepted.

-     Used oil handlers can also be contacted to dispose of oil.

-     Anything that has been used to absorb the oil should also be disposed of in the same way.

16.      Packing Peanuts

-     Packing peanuts can be reused for shipping or safe storage of item

-     Peanuts that won’t be used can be donated to most packing or mailing stores. Some will also take
      packing paper, bubble wrap, or other old shipping supplies as well.

-     Recycling centers accept packing peanuts.

17.      Pallets

-     Suppliers will sometimes recycle old pallets.

-     Other businesses may need pallets if they are in working condition.

-     Bring to a recycling center. Some places may grind old pallets into wood chips or other useful
      materials.

-     Wood recovery centers will dispose of pallets for a fee.

18.      Paper

-     Reuse unused back sides of paper as scratch paper for drafting emails/letters or anything else you
      may need.

-     Recycle at any recycling center.

-     Arrange for a recycling company to pick up paper products from your business on a regular basis.

-     Document management companies will shred and recycle confidential papers if necessary.

19.      Plastic Bottles

-     Plastic bottles marked #1, #2, or #3 can be recycled at any recycling center. Milk jugs, soda
      bottles, and water bottles are also recyclable.

-     Recycled bottles can also be picked up by recycling services for a fee.

20.      Heavy Plastic Waste (PVC pipes, plastic containers, etc.)

-     Plastic can be exchanged with other people who may need plastic. 
       http://www.wastecare.com/exchange/index.php or www-wastexchange-org.

-     If you have a large amount of plastic to get rid of, a plastics recycling company may be necessary.

-     Plastic can be disposed of by some recycling centers.

21.   Printer Cartridges

-     Printer cartridges are hazardous waste.

-     Many manufacturers of printer cartridges will accept used cartridges being mailed back to them

-     Hazardous waste collection centers will accept cartridges.

-     Office supply stores may also accept used printer cartridges.

22.   Tires

-     Repair tires for reuse by patching them when possible.

-     There are specific places that will recycle or dispose of used tires. Contact the solid waste
      department for information.

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