Trash & Recycling in Charleston, SC (2026)
6 verified trash & recycling rules for Charleston, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Charleston residents must separate bulk trash categories at the curb, pile loose trash compactly, and bundle boxes and paper securely; dumping household waste in sidewalk litter cans or other unauthorized spots is unlawful under City Code Sec. 14-46.
Charleston Trash Set-Out and Separation Rules
Some RestrictionsCharleston, SC Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-46(h)-(j)
(h)It shall be unlawful for any resident to deposit residential material in any receptacle maintained on a sidewalk, at any other location for control of litter by pedestrians or motorists, or at any other unauthorized disposal site.(i)Grass and leaves, brush and tree parts, white goods, furniture and other bulk trash shall be placed for collection pursuant to section 14-46 herein in the follow...
Bin Placement Rules
Charleston residents may use up to three watertight, 40-gallon containers per household, capped at 50 pounds loaded. Carts must be tightly covered and set at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before pickup, and pulled back in by 6:00 p.m. on collection day.
Charleston Garbage Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsCharleston, SC Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-46(a), (e), (g)(2)-(3)
(a)...The type, size and number of containers allowed shall be as follows:(1)Type. Watertight metal or heavy-duty plastic or material of similar strength with handles and tight-fitting cover.(2)Size. Maximum of forty (40) gallons in volume and fifty (50) pounds or less when loaded per can, unless otherwise specified in writing by the city sanitation division.(3)Number. Maximum of three (3) per ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Charleston offers free bulk pickup for furniture, mattresses and white goods if the sanitation division is notified first, and doors or drawers must be removed from appliances before they hit the curb. Brush and limbs are capped at four feet long and four inches in diameter.
Charleston Bulk Item and Brush Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsCharleston, SC Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-46(b), (d)
(b)Bulk, including white goods, shall be disposed of only in accordance with the following policy:(1)Free bulk pickup shall be available for residents, provided the city sanitation division is notified.(2)Residents shall place bulk pickup with all doors and drawers removed, if applicable at the curb or edge of pavement only on the date and time assigned by the city sanitation division.(3)No whi...
Illegal Dumping
Charleston bans depositing solid waste of any kind on public or private property except in a lawful container under City Code Section 14-2(a). Criminal violations carry a fine up to $500.00 or 30 days in jail under Section 14-16(e), and the city can clean up an uncorrected dump site and lien the property for the cost.
Charleston Illegal Dumping and Littering Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsCharleston City Code §§ 14-2(a), 14-16(e)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, discard, place or deposit solid waste in any manner or amount on any public or private property within the corporate limits of the city, except in containers or areas lawfully provided therefor. ... (e)In the event that criminal sanctions are invoked hereunder, violation of any section of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding f...
Dumpster Rules
Placing or maintaining a dumpster on a Charleston right-of-way requires a dumpster permit from the department of traffic and transportation under § 19-493, proof of at least $1 million in liability insurance, and compliance with the placement standards in § 19-494. Containers must run four to thirty cubic yards, sit on a firm level surface close to the curb, and carry reflective marking with flashing-light barricades.
Charleston Dumpster Permit and Placement Standards
Significant RestrictionsCharleston, S.C. Code of Ordinances §§ 19-492, 19-493
Dumpster. An approved metal container as determined by the director of traffic and transportation, with a minimum capacity of four (4) cubic yards and a maximum capacity of thirty (30) cubic yards, used for the storage, collection, or removal of construction debris, demolition debris, or other discarded material. ... It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to place or maintain a dumpster ...
Collection Schedule
Charleston requires every residence outside multi-family complexes to keep enough containers for the waste generated between pickups, with collection running Monday through Friday, except holidays, on a day the city sanitation division assigns to each address.
Charleston Residential Trash Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsCharleston, SC Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-46(a), (g)(1)
(a)All residences, excluding residential multi-family complexes located in the city, shall use sufficient containers so as to accommodate the normal volume of solid waste generated therein between collections, unless otherwise specified...(g)In placing containers and other solid waste for collection and removing containers after collection, all residents shall follow these practices:(1)Days. Mo...
Looking for Charleston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Charleston city rules.
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