Compost Program

COMPOST [ käm-ˌpōst ]
noun:
decayed organic material (such as leaves and food scraps) which is used to improve the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of soils.
verb:
to change organic materials into compost.
2014 USCC Compost Program of the Year

Charleston County Environmental Management conducted a waste composition study in 2009-2010, revealing that over 20% of the County's waste stream consists of organics, such as yard waste and food scraps. Charleston County Council set a vision for saving valuable landfill space and recycling organic waste by maximizing the County's compost facility.

Charleston County began composting yard waste in 1993 and averaged about 20,000 tons per year. Today the compost facility is located in West Ashley and processes 100% of the yard waste generated and accepted at the landfill, nearly 75,000 tons a year. Additionally, the County was the first in the state to initiate food waste composting.

Charleston County's composting program is a vital part of the County's integrated solid waste management program and a key part of the County's goal to develop the premier solid waste management program in the Southeast. Diverting organic material for composting conserves landfill space and supports County Council's 40% recycling goal.

In January 2013, the program earned the U.S. Composting Council's (USCC) Seal of Testing Assurance (STA), which testifies that the finished compost consistently meets that program's high quality standards. Two years later at the USCC conference in Austin, Texas, Charleston County was awarded the 2014 USCC Compost of the Year Award.

In 2020, the compost facility was privatized through a partnership with McGill Environmental Systems.

Charleston County Compost Logo Charleston County Compost
Backyard Composting
Buy Compost
Compost Calculator
Compost Program
Food Waste
Compost Facility
McGill Environmental Systems visit McGill Environmental Systems

School Compost Donation Program

2014 USCC Compost Program of the Year

McGill is proud to be part of the Charleston County community. Charleston County Schools can contact us at BeesBest@McGillCompost.com to inquire about compost donations or discounts for use in projects throughout the district. Examples of projects include athletic field installation or maintenance, plant or vegetable gardens, and general landscaping.

Residential Food Scrap Drop-Off Program

2014 USCC Compost Program of the Year

Residents in the Charleston region can recycle food scraps for FREE at participating drop sites. The food scraps are delivered to the Bees Ferry Compost Facility to be recycled into compost. The City of Charleston piloted the program in 2022 and after a successful first year, the County and Folly Beach are joining the effort by adding more drop sites:

Participating Drop Site Locations:

  • Ackerman Park (West Ashley) including West Ashley Farmers Market
  • Bees Ferry Convenience Center* (West Ashley)
    • *Continue past the convenience center; The food scrap drop site is located in the gravel parking lot adjacent to the scale house.
    • Monday - Saturday | 7:30AM - 6PM This drop site is gated when closed
  • Carmen R. Bunch Park (Isle of Palms)
  • Charleston County Public Services Building
  • Corrine Jones Park (Peninsula)
  • Edgar Allen Poe Library (Sullivan's Island)
  • Elliotborough Park (Peninsula)
  • Edwards Park (Mount Pleasant)
  • Folly Beach Community Center
  • Governors Park (Daniel Island)
  • IOP Marina (Isle of Palms)
  • James Island Recreation Complex
  • Johns Island Library
  • Jones Center Recreation Complex (Mount Pleasant)
  • Medway Park (James Island)
  • Park West Recreation Complex (Mount Pleasant)

Drop-off locations are subject to change. View the map and updates on the website.

Residents must sign up at Charleston-SC.gov/Compost to participate.

Certified Compost visit CompostingCouncil.org
Don't Waste Food SC visit SCDHEC.gov

Program History & Accomplishments

Charleston County has become the largest compost producer in the state and one of the largest on the East Coast. Since the Program's overhaul in 2009, Charleston County has implemented several initiatives that have further improved our composting program:

  • In September 2009, the County banned all yard waste from the Bees Ferry Landfill and now directs it to the Compost Facility. Today, the Bees Ferry Compost Facility diverts100% of the yard waste once sent to the landfill, over 59,000 tons a year.
  • Effective June 1, 2011, the County enacted a yard waste plastic bag ban to ensure the quality of the finished compost product.
  • The County conducted South Carolina's first commercial food waste composting pilot (September 2010 - November 2011), which is now a permanent program permitted by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
  • Charleston County's Environmental Management Department received the 2011 Outstanding Composting or Organics Recycling Program Award during the Carolina Recycling Association's 21st Annual Trade Show and Conference.
  • The facility is the first in the state to be permitted by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to implement two major innovations: (1) using compost as Alternative Daily Cover in the landfill, and (2) conducting a food waste composting pilot. During the first six months of the pilot program, over 500 tons of food waste was processed.
  • In January 2013, the Program earned the United States Composting Council's (USCC) Seal of Testing Assurance (STA), which testifies that the finished compost consistently meets that program's high quality standards.
  • In late 2014, Charleston County Compost joined the SC Department of Agriculture's Certified South Carolina program as part of our commitment to create a local product that serves our community.
  • Charleston County Joined the South Carolina Certified Program which certifies the County's compost as a Certified SC Product. Charleston County is the largest compost producer in the state and one of the largest on the East Coast.
  • In 2020, the compost facility was privatized through a partnership with McGill Environmental Systems.

Bees Ferry Compost Facility & Tour Information

Compost Photo

Charleston County began composting yard waste in 1993 at the Bees Ferry Landfill and averaged about 20,000 tons per year. Today the Compost Facility covers 16 acres, employs 4 people, and processes 100% of the yard waste generated and accepted at the landfill, nearly 75,000 tons a year.

Tours of the Compost Facility are provided for school groups, garden clubs and other community organizations. For questions or to set up a tour, please contact the Environmental Management Department at (843)720-7111.

How Is Compost Made?

Compost Made

Charleston County began composting yard waste in 1993 at the Bees Ferry Landfill and averaged about 20,000 tons per year. Today the Compost Facility covers 16 acres, employs 4 people, and processes 100% of the yard waste generated and accepted at the landfill, nearly 75,000 tons a year.

Tours of the Compost Facility are provided for school groups, garden clubs and other community organizations. For questions or to set up a tour, please contact the Environmental Management Department at (843)720-7111.

Press

Released
Release Title
08-2020
Composting product for sale at Bees Ferry Landfill starting Monday
(ABC News 4)
08-2020
New compost operation launches in Charleston County
(ABC News 4)
08-2020
New Operator At County Composting Facility In South Carolina
(Biocycle)
05-2014
Food Scraps Diversion Goes to School
(BioCycle)
03-2014
WATCH: From Restaurant Kitchen to Your Bed of Begonias
(YouTube)
02-2013
Compost: Black Gold
(Post & Courier)
01-2013
Charleston County Fosters Food Waste Composting
(BioCycle)
10-2012
Food Waste Composting Progress in the Southeast
(BioCycle)
05-2012
From Table to Farm; Johns Island Man Sets Up Business to Haul Food Waste for Compost
(Post & Courier)
10-2011
Table Scraps Get a New Life: County Turns Restaurant Food Trash into Compost, Cuts Landfill Waste
(Post & Courier)

Testimonials

Sidi Limehouse, Rosebank Farms

Farmers must know soils and which crops grow best in which fields. We at Rosebank Farms have to date purchased 200 tons of compost from Charleston County's Bees Ferry Landfill and have spread it on our fields. The compost allows us to reduce commercial fertilizers and build our soil at the same time. This compost is an example of a local product that has all the bells and whistles of an environmentally green product and it is inexpensive. Everyone who has a lawn, a flower bed or a vegetable garden should take advantage of the Black Gold of Charleston County.

Jason Parrish, Wild Olive Restaurant

Wild Olive is very proud to be the first Certified Green Restaurant in the State of South Carolina and our composting program was the single largest factor in helping us to achieve that certification. We compost approximately one thousand pounds of food and paper waste every week and not only is it good business but we feel we are doing our part to help our local environment. The Charleston County Composting Program has made this process effortless and has helped us to not only be a farm to table restaurant, but a table to farm restaurant as well.

Wayne Koeckeritz, Food Waste Disposal

The Bees Ferry Compost Facility is a great example of local government responding to a global problem. Outside of the composting world, few are aware of the dangers of landfilling organics, especially in the Southeast. Charleston County has diligently mounted campaigns to not only increase the number of businesses diverting their organic waste, but also to make the finished compost readily available and affordable to residents, community gardens, local farmers, landscapers, and other county and state departments. One can often hear folks remark on what a great product this compost is compared to the mulch that was being produced only a few short years ago.

Charleston County Compost